Nearly 3,000 oppose £2.5m plan to axe Pyramids pool in Southsea

NEARLY 3,000 people have begged councillors to save a swimming pool.
How the new soft play area in the Pyramids could look. Picture: House of Play.How the new soft play area in the Pyramids could look. Picture: House of Play.
How the new soft play area in the Pyramids could look. Picture: House of Play.

The Pyramids Centre pool is set to be permanently closed in a £2.5m scheme that will see it transformed into a soft play centre.

Now some 2,960 people have put their names to a change.org petition asking Portsmouth City Council to think again.

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The site, featuring smaller teaching pool, wave machine and slides, is run under contract from the council by BH Live.

Cllr Steve PittCllr Steve Pitt
Cllr Steve Pitt
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Councillor defends move after backlash

Signing the petition recently, Victoria Nicholls said: ‘Children need a safe place to learn to swim and have fun with slides and waves.’

Deputy council leader Steve Pitt, who said he had received hateful messages when the plan was announced, previously said the building had reached its 30-year lifespan. This scheme would extend it by another 10 years, he said.

But that has left many unconvinced. Posting on the petition website, Geoff Long said the decision was a ‘disgrace’.

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Sharon Lay added: ‘This is a place that can provide enjoyment for all regardless of age with the swimming and entertainment capacity.’

The plaza gig space at the centre is due to be converted into a gym.

Cllr Pitt has defended the decision and said the site was losing the council £650,000 a year.

BH Live has pools at the Mountbatten Centre, Charter School and Eastney.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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