Save our pool campaign appeal

A PETITION has been set up to save Castle Douglas Swimming Pool from closure. It is being earmarked to shut as part of Dumfries and Galloway’s budget consultation. But campaigners are fighting that proposal and say the 53-year-old facility had 65,000 visits last year and must remain open. Tammie Kirk, who started the petition, explained that it originally opened in 1972 following three tragic drownings locally. Funding to open the pool initially came from a combination of donations from two local businesses and fundraising efforts by the local community. She said: “Closing CD swimming pool next year would leave no council-run swimming pools in the Stewartry and leave us back in the same position we were in back in the 1960s! This is absolutely unacceptable - especially as we were recently promised a £1 million upgrade to our pool. “Today, CD Swimming Pool & Fitness Suite helps our school kids learn a potentially life saving skill. It provides healthy exercise facilities for people all year round, as well as being a hub for social interaction and improved mental wellbeing. “We can not let the council close our beloved pool.” Appealing for support, Tammy is calling on people to lobby local councillors and sign the petition at https://c.org/xMM4SyN8v4 It already has 869 signatures.