Pull crowd (From Barry And District News)

Pull crowd

LIKE many other residents we oppose the closing of the Knap Pool. With just a little effort a fund could have been set up for donations and fund-raising events arranged to raise money for the repairs to be carried out.

I have an extract from The Times dated May 24, 1997, written by John Goodbody. The article's front page headline in the weekend section is "why are we closing our Lidos, as British summers become warmer our open air pools are too precious to lose." Although referring to the whole of Britain there is a specific section on the Barry pool. It says, many children learned to swim in it and its popularity was immense in the 1930s with bathing beauty and synchronised swimming competitions.

On sunny bank holidays some 3,800 people would spread out their towels. It goes on to say "unfortunately, all too often, pools are closed and fall prey to vandalism and when local opposition to closure has subsided they are demolished sometimes not ever being replaced with places to have fun.

"Some authorities have established clubs of self help groups which raise money to keep the lido open." Why did the powers to be in Barry not follow that trend?

In 1994, when closure was first threatened, 14,000 signatures opposing it were received. The pool eventually closed in 1997. Imagine what progress could have been made during that time.

I think the authorities owe it to the people of Barry to reopen this pool. In the summer months swimming is just not the same in the clammy atmosphere of a heavily chlorinated indoor pool.

Much money is being spent in Barry to develop the Waterfront area. A lot of effort is put into keeping our roundabouts nice at both ends of the Waterfront but what about the other areas such as Holton Road and the Knap Pool area which have been left to deteriorate?

Regeneration of the pool will go a long way in the drive for a brighter future for Barry.

With the right management, events could again be held which would encourage the crowds, like they did in the 1930s.

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