ST Helens Council insists it remains “absolutely committed” to bringing the swimming pool at Sutton Leisure Centre back into use.

As reported in March, almost £700,000 was promised to Sutton Leisure Centre for work on the swimming pool and a 3G artificial pitch.

Confirmation came when St Helens Borough Council passed its 2021-22 budget, which allocated £392,000 from its capital budget for the swimming provision at Sutton Leisure Centre and £307,000 to the 3G pitch, with the pitch now open.

The pool closed in 2013 despite fierce opposition from residents – 1,142 people signed a petition at the time calling for the council to keep the facilities open.

However, last year, the Labour-run authority U-turned on its stance that the pool should remain closed to save what it claimed would be £180,000 a year.

This followed the closure of Parr Swimming and Fitness Centre in October 2019 due to safety concerns.

The facilities at Parr originally closed for ceiling works, but the final surveyor’s report on the ageing building revealed larger scale repairs were needed to bring it back into public use.

Cllr Anthony Burns, the council’s cabinet member for wellbeing, culture and heritage, moved to reassure residents about the pool at Sutton Leisure Centre.

However, the council stopped short of setting out a time line of when it could reopen by.

Cllr Burns said: “As a council, one of our main priorities is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle – that’s why we remain absolutely committed to bringing the swimming pool back into use at Sutton Leisure Centre.

“The budget for this project has been agreed and is separate to the now-open 3G sports pitch which was made possible by a variety of differing grant funding schemes, including the Football Foundation.

“Appointment of a property design specialist is under way who will facilitate the next stage of the project, which is to procure the building contractors to complete the works required.

“Once complete – the new swimming pool will further strengthen a superb leisure offer in place at Sutton Leisure Centre for our communities to enjoy