A Newcastle swimming pool has reopened as an extensive development programme to safeguard its future and improve its sustainability has been completed ahead of schedule.
Elswick Community Pool and Gym in the west of Newcastle has undergone a £3million modernisation to improve facilities, create a more sustainable and greener community pool, and ensure it continues to be a cherished asset in the heart of the community.
Newcastle City Council, working alongside Equans to develop and deliver the scheme with the pool’s operators, celebrated the reopening of the pool with a community funday on Saturday 19 July.
The works include the installation of solar panels to generate free electricity, energy efficient low-carbon heating systems, and other improvements to reduce energy consumption such as new pool covers, triple-glazed windows and insulated roofing.
Together, the measures completely remove the building’s reliance on gas for energy, and deliver a projected lifetime carbon saving equivalent to a person taking 2,352 round-trip flights from Newcastle to New York.
Cllr Juna Sathian, Newcastle City Council Cabinet Member for Climate and Transport, said: “Elswick Community Pool and Gym is a cherished community asset that is important to the health and wellbeing of the local community.
“I’m really proud we’ve been able to work with partners to invest in its future and deliver a more sustainable community pool that can be enjoyed by people of all ages for generations to come.
“Not only will the works that have been carried out reduce the pool’s running costs, but it also helps us provide cleaner infrastructure that contributes towards our goal of combatting climate change.”
Newcastle City Council secured funding from a number of sources to deliver the improvements at Elswick Community Pool and Gym, including the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), Sport England and the North East Combined Authority’s Green New Deal Fund.
Elswick Community Pool and Gym Centre Manager Phil Jameson said: “By working in partnership with Newcastle City Council, external funders and with our own financial investment we have improved our ability to sustain and enhance the vital services we provide with these extensive improvements. As part of our green energy strategy we are delighted to decarbonise and improve the environmental impact.
“We are a single site, local led charity organisation and the essential modernisation of aging plant equipment combined with better thermal insulation of the building fabric will allow us to keep providing a range of physical and mental activities at affordable prices to benefit everyone in the community.”
Darren Sterling, Regional Director at Equans UK & Ireland commented: "The works to decarbonise this much-loved facility will give our local community a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and comfortable environment to enjoy being active and develop essential life skills.
“We're proud to have supported Newcastle City Council in bringing these plans to life and look forward to seeing the long-term benefits they deliver for generations to come."
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.
Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger, said: “We are delighted to have supported this valuable Newcastle City Council project at Elswick Pool.
“It means that a much-loved swimming pool now has reduced carbon emissions after removing the building’s reliance on gas. However, it is also providing a more comfortable place for the community to enjoy.
“This means it’s better for the community and better for our planet.”