A CAMPAIGN backed by Paralympic heroes Sascha Kindred and Nyree Lewis to re-open a Hereford swimming pool has received a vital boost.

Herefordshire Council’s cabinet is to reconsider its decision to keep the LEA pool at St Martin’s closed following a special meeting of the children’s services scrutiny committee.

The Hinton pool was shut last year over health and safety fears, forcing children from 38 primary schools and the members of various swimming groups to use Hereford Leisure Pool.

Cabinet asked for the move to be monitored and a report to be brought back to it next Easter.

A petition against the closure was handed in by Sarah Carr, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hereford, at the start of the meeting.

Colin Birks, the council’s property services manager, told the meeting the pool was decommissioned on health and safety grounds – pipes were badly corroded, the heating was broken and the building had no emergency lighting.

Officers estimated that £72,500 was needed in capital investment to enable the pool to re-open. A further £210,000 was needed to make the pool energy efficient and estimated running costs top £137,000 a year.

The meeting heard from the Dolphin Swimming Group, the Triathlon Group and the City of Hereford Swimming Club, all regular users of the LEA pool who have had to cut their time in the water.

Mr Kindred, who won two gold medals in Beijing, said competitive swimmers need between 18 and 20 hours a week in the water.

“That sort of opportunity needs to be given to children,” he said. “When I was at school the Victorian baths we used were knocked down and swimming stopped at my school. The opportunity for children to swim needs to be there.”

The committee recommended cabinet re-open the pool, invest £72,000 into repairs and maintain the existing charges for schools and other users. Members also asked for a business plan to be drawn up for the future running of the pool.

After the meeting, Mrs Carr said she was delighted cabinet would have to re-think their decision.

“If cabinet can earmark £10 million for a cattle market then they can spend £72,000 on our children's safety,” she said.