The Problems and Potential of the Outdoor Pool Project 

PROBLEMS:  The pool is currently in a run down condition. The access road is full of pot holes. There is a major leak in the large pool, which is losing 6 inches of heated water per day. Because the boiler and the chlorine plant are in the same room, the chlorine rots the boiler at a cost of £13,000 this year. The entrance kiosk and changing rooms all need updating. There is only one outside shower. The disabled access is not very satisfactory. There is an ugly high interior fence round the pools which could be removed or lowered to give a more friendly atmosphere. The grounds and pool surrounds need a lot of work to make them more attractive

POTENTIAL:  The potential for this pool is enormous. It is in a wonderful position by the river Waveney. We should like to build a café on the Western river side of the site open to both swimmers and the public. We should like to buy a heat retaining cover for the water with solar panels built in. Build a separate room for the chlorine plant. Improve the disabled access. Build new changing rooms, shower block and entrance kiosk. We should like to extend the opening hours both in the morning and the evening so that workers can swim. We should like to keep the pool open all day on Saturday and Sunday, currently it closes from 12:00pm to 1:30pm.

The aim of The Friends is to ensure the long-term future of Beccles Open-Air Swimming Pool.  We see the Pool as a popular summer attraction and we want to help in any way we can to turn it from its present state into something Beccles can be really proud of with a range of activities to suit all ages and tastes.  This can be achieved if we all pull together, working with Waveney District Council to put the Beccles Open-Air Swimming Pool on the map as a “must-visit” item.

 Recognising the public benefit of an open-air pool, the Friends have applied to the Charity Commissioner for charitable status. As a registered charity, the Friends become eligible for look for funding from other charitable bodies to help the Friends revitalise the pool and the surrounding area

 No one can deny the attractions of the open-air pool:  heated water, fantastic location next to the River Waveney, fresh air, grassy areas in which to sit and sunbathe, sounds of laughter and chat – and no pressured time limit for one’s stay.  If global warming is coming, can you imagine hot sunny days without the open-air pool?!

 The friends spent two weeks before the pool opened this year painting the changing rooms, mowing the grass, weeding the grounds and pruning the hedges; we continue to mow the grass regularly. Last year we raised the money for the very popular inflatable and the picnic tables.

Waveney District Council are pursuing the idea of an indoor pool as part of a gym and sports complex to be built off George Westwood Way. No doubt this would be an asset to the town but Beccles and its surrounding villages have the capacity to keep both an indoor and an outdoor pool going.   Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds?