Provisional funding deal agreed for pool and gym

THE campaign to build a community pool and gym in Alderney took a major step forward when the Policy Committee finally agreed to give it provisional financial backing.

Members voted in favour of an outline agreement to give the Alderney Community and Sports Centre charitable trust matched funding for the capital costs of building the complex.

That means that for every pound the charity raises towards the project, the States would also donate a pound.

According to its business plan, the trust needs £487,089 to construct a 25m heated indoor pool and a gym large enough to accommodate 10 machines. The ACSC trust has £100,000 to put towards the scheme.

Now that the States has given its backing, the trust hopes to launch a revitalised fundraising campaign with the aim of raising a further £125,000.

Trustee Rosemary James, pictured, said: 'This is a really positive move by the States to try to build something worthwhile for the people of Alderney.

'We have not got there yet, although this appears to be a hugely encouraging step forward. It's now up to those who want this facility to pull together and help to raise the necessary money. Whatever we can raise, the States have agreed to match it.'

The States will provide the funding only if the trust overcomes 12 'hurdles' outlined in the feasibility study it submitted.

Those steps include engaging structural, pool and heating engineers for detailed plans and costs and then applying for planning permission.

The States' support came after 1,149 residents, holiday home owners and visitors signed a petition to express their support for the scheme.

As States funding would represent a significant sum of public money, the matter will have to be put before the States before being finally signed off.

Chief executive Roy Burke cautioned that ACSC had a lot of work to put in place before that happened.

'There are lots of things for the ACSC to put in place first, but the States has given them the support which will enable them to get to the next stage of their development,' he said. Full details can be found on www.swimalderney.org.