The Government has awarded local authorities a share of £20m to support swimming pools and leisure centres that are most at risk of closure or significant service reduction.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the funding would go to 196 leisure centres and swimming pools in 103 local authorities to help with increased operating costs.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, executive director for place at non-departmental government body Sport England, said: ‘Many pools have faced a real and significant threat to their survival this year, as operators battle the challenge of increased energy and maintenance costs, weakened reserves and difficulties with retaining staff.’
She said while the funding was important, it was ‘by no means the end of the work facing us or the support available as we continue to work with our partners to ensure the long-term viability of these vital community resources.’
The money is part of the the Swimming Pool Support Fund, which was announced in the Spring Budget.
The DCMS said that ‘over the coming months’, the recipients of a further £40m would be announced, with the funding to be spent making pools and leisure centres more energy efficient.
Last month, Swim England revealed that more than 1,000 publicly accessible pools have closed since 2010.
