A bid for £1.9m to carry out improvements to the Jubilee Pool in Penzance has been formally submitted to the Coastal Communities Fund today (9 May).

The bid, which has been submitted as a deferred bid from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund 2013 programme of works, includes funding to carry out essential structural works on the Pool, including repairs to the storm damage, and a two year funding package to support business improvements to enable the Pool to become more sustainable in the future.

These include the development of a new management structure and a range of new aquatic activities, including Group Fitness, Water Polo and Kayaking and Sailing.

The bid, which has been put together by Cornwall Council, has the full support of Penzance Town Council and the Friends of Jubilee Pool.

The pool is the largest seawater Lido in the country and is a unique selling point for Penzance.

The issue of applying for funding to breathe new life into Jubilee Pool was discussed at an extraordinary meeting of Penzance Town Council earlier this week when councillors were asked to consider approving the use of £40,000 allocated for devolution projects in its area as part of the match funding for the bid.

Town Councillors also discussed entering into partnership to enable the local management of the Pool in the future. Following a debate during which members of the public expressed their support for the proposal, councillors voted unanimously in favour of submitting the application with Town Council support.

Adam Paynter, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for partnerships, said “This is really good news. I am delighted that the town council has supported the partnership to add their weight to the application to seek to secure significant funding for the pool.

"The discussions to date have clearly shown that this is a facility valued in Penzance and everyone is united in that view.

“Cornwall Council has recognised this and has committed to supporting the project with some match funding and we hope that the package and local support will result in the Government approving this application.”

At the same time the Friends of Jubilee Pool have developed an ambitious campaign to not only raise funds to include in the funding application but also to set aside funding for future repair costs, should the need arise.

"This is a great endorsement of the popularity of this extraordinary amenity” said Martin Nixon, from the Friends of Jubilee Pool.

“The Jubilee Pool is a rare survivor and we've been overwhelmed by the huge public support and offers to help save it for future generations. Our aim is to see it survive well into the next 75 years as an iconic symbol of not only Penzance but also Cornwall'.

Anyone wishing to contribute can visit: www.jubileepool.co.uk.

A decision on the outcome of the application is expected in July and if successful, surveys and works will then be programmed to allow the work to progress. This application has been invited by government as a ‘deferred’ application and is not therefore in direct competition with other applications to the Fund in the new round.