News Item (19-06-2007)

Fundraising to pay for work at Highworth’s outdoor swimming pool, known locally as ‘The Rec’, has been a mammoth task.  £49,388 has been granted from Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts which uses landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.   

Swimmers from Highworth, Swindon and beyond have been attracted to the pool since its opening in 1968.  The sides of the new roof will be opened to allow open-air swimming on warm days and closed on colder ones, meaning that the pool can be used all year round.  Other refurbishment work is planned for the pool’s liner and treatment system.  Lighting, security and electrical systems are to be upgraded. 

Martin Bettington, Chairman of Biffaward, said “Community sporting facilities are hugely valuable, and deserve investment.  Biffaward is proud to support this project which will see Highworth’s pool being used all year round, enabling it to be more sustainable and secure its own future.” 

Phil Baker, Chair of The Rec’s Executive Committee, said “It has been a massive effort to bring together the wide range of financial backers to enable this project to go forward.  Biffaward’s contribution was a real encouragement, and led to others providing financial support.  The people of Highworth have waited nearly 40 years to see a pool with a roof on and now this is becoming a reality.” 

The £49,388 Biffaward grant, which was applied for by Community First on behalf of the Highworth Recreation Centre Trust, includes a £4,938.80 contribution from Highworth Town Council.  Under Government regulations only 90 per cent of a grant can be provided from landfill tax – the rest must come from another source.  In total, more than £1.6m has been raised for the project.  Other funders include Highworth Town Council, Swindon Borough Council, Sport England, Hills Minerals and Waste, Swindon Services, Highworth United Reform Church, Freke Norton Trust, Section 106 Agreement and the People of Highworth.  

A spokesperson for Community First said “The people of Highworth have been exceptional in their support for the project and have never abandoned the idea of a modern pool facility that could be used all year round.  Community First is pleased to have been instrumental in achieving part of the funding, and wish them every success in the future.”

Biffa provides a range of public sector, commercial and industrial waste collection services as well as the management of 33 operational landfill sites across the UK. The multi-million pound a year Biffaward fund has been set up, using tax charged on waste taken into landfill sites, to help finance environmental projects near Biffa sites.