Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie is backing a campaign to save a school swimming pool.
The pool at Leonard Stanley Primary School was built in the 1970s, but needs to be demolished and rebuilt.
The PTA who are running the campaign and need £60,000 to replace it. The total currently stands at £48,000 thanks to fundraising events, business donations and a sponsored skydive and a large donation from a lady who went to the school and whose father helped build the pool.
When finished, the pool will return to giving children access to swimming several times a week in summer term and the wider community can use it during evenings, weekends and school holidays.
“Many congratulations to all who have raised the money so far for the new pool and to those who have given so generously – it’s a wonderful effort,” said Ms Baillie.
“This really shows the power of a supercharged PTA as they are now close to reaching the target through a lot of hard work. I am very happy to give the appeal a shout out with a big thank you in advance to anybody who can assist to get the fundraising over the line.
“In the past, the pool has been a huge school and community asset and when rebuilt it can take that place again.
“Thanks to Leonard Stanley for inviting me. I have not been able to stop thinking about the school since the visit and meeting some of the children who are supporting the campaign was very valuable. The children have done some weird and wonderful challenges to raise money themselves, including giving up screen time!!”
Chair of the PTA Allyson Higgins said: “It’s been a huge and daunting task to raise this money, but the pool is such an invaluable community asset, we just can’t lose it.
“As a family we love swimming there and there’s nothing more lovely than hearing the sound of happy kids swimming on a summer’s evening.
“We’ve only got another £12k to go to hit our target, and so getting to the top of the mountain suddenly seems so much more achievable.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who has supported, and here’s to getting over the final hurdle. Also thank you to Siobhan for her support for the pool and our school generally.”
