By Rebecca Maer
Community campaigners are celebrating the news they have been awarded more than £520,000 funding towards refurbishing Motcombe Pool.
The vital injection of money will help realise the vision of creating a wellbeing centre at the 120-year-old buildings in Motcombe Lane in Old Town.
The Government grant is for £475,000 capital funding and £48,000 revenue funding for the pool and the former caretaker’s house.
Helen Nichols, chair of Motcombe Pool Community Interest Company, said: “We are thrilled to have received this in-principle decision on funding.
“This will allow us to begin transforming the Pool House into a much-needed wellbeing centre for our community.
“This project is not just about preserving a heritage building but creating a space that promotes creative health and happiness, while underpinning our long-term plans for the future of the pool itself.”
The pool, which closed in March 2020 at the start of the Covid lockdown, is one of 85 community assets to benefit from £36 million announced here in the final round of the community ownership fund (COF).
Ms Nichols added that a significant factor in the decision was that the Friends of Motcombe Pool have kept the project alive “by continuing to build social value in the scheme”.
The planned wellbeing centre here will offer a range of facilities, including rooms for alternative treatments, a small gym, and a light and airy, expressive arts studio.
Earlier this year, the Pool House was used to host a six-week series of arts workshops here as part of the ‘Eastbourne Alive’ project inspired by the Turner prize, hosted by the Towner gallery.
The site is designated as a community asset, protecting it from redevelopment, and operates as a not-for-profit community interest company (CIC) with the support of Eastbourne Borough Council.
It has already secured £135,700 in funding from Sport England for renewable energy measures. Construction students from East Sussex College will eventually join the refurbishment project.
The statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said:
“We are delighted to inform you that your application has been successful, and to approve in principle the award of a COF grant of £475,000 capital funding and £48,000 revenue funding to Motcombe Community Pool and Pool House.’
“I want to thank you for working to save your asset for generations to come. As you know, community ownership provides an invaluable platform to bring communities together, putting people back in control of local assets that are important to them.
“Community ownership has an essential role to play, not only in empowering communities, but also driving social and economic change.”
Motcombe, which opened in 1905, is one of four historic swimming pools to be helped in this round of funding, among a total of 19 sports clubs and leisure facilities across the country to be received funding.
The community ownership fund, launched in 2021, was due to continue until March 2025 but it has been ended early with the Government saying it wanted to fund other priorities.
A total of £135 million of a promised £150 million has been allocated to 409 projects over the course of the scheme.
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