Cost of living threat to swimming pools, says survey

Swimming pools in Wales are facing an “existential threat” as heating costs rocket with the cost of living crisis.

A survey by ukactive, which promotes leisure services, warned almost 80% of pools could shut because of fuel costs.

Community-run leisure centre Calon Tysul, in Llandysul, Ceredigion, has already made service cuts as it faces losing £7,000 a month.

It is now paying almost three times as much as last year to heat the pool as a result of soaring fuel prices.

Swim Wales said the centre was not alone and that many pools face uncertain futures because of increased running costs.

Its aquatics and inclusion head Sioned Williams called it “a huge concern”.