Management of Jubilee Pool to be transferred to new community benefit society

The Friends will be managing the pool via a new community benefit society on whose board will sit the local Cornwall councillor, a town councillor as well as representatives from the Friends and community leaders. The society will operate the pool on the community’s behalf and ensure it is an affordable amenity for everyone.

Works to improve the accessibility of the pool will begin this month to provide a series of ramps between the various tiers and install an easy access shower, toilet and changing facility. A Room Mate, a device which provides verbal instructions to help people with visual impairment to use changing spaces more independently, will also be installed in the easy access shower and toilet. In addition a new pool hoist will be provided which will improve accessibility into the water.

Jubilee Pool has received investment from the Coastal Communities Fund, Cornwall Council, Penzance Town Council, the Friends of Jubilee Pool, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnerships Regional Growth Fund (RGF) and Tempus Leisure, following the winter storms of 2014 which caused significant damage to the pool. Following the damage the pool was closed for two summer seasons, however, after an extensive repair project, which included rock anchoring of the pool base, sea wall repairs, extensive grouting, mechanical and electrical works, as well as general repair works, the pool was ready to be opened to the public once again last May.

Martin Nixon, chair of the Friends of Jubilee Pool, said: “We are delighted to announce the devolution of Jubilee Pool to the Friends of Jubilee Pool Community Benefit Society. Since the Friends of Jubilee Pool were established in 1992 our objective has simply been to ensure the pool survives. Our trustees are passionate about the pool, have the expertise required to operate it successfully and will represent the interests of the large number of equally enthusiastic users, both locally and further afield.

"Over the past three years Cornwall Council have invested considerable time and energy to the issue of Jubilee Pool’s future. We are delighted they have now placed their faith in the Friends of Jubilee Pool to deliver a sustainable longer term plan for this important listed building and community leisure asset.

"We will now continue to work closely with Cornwall Council and local stakeholders on the next stage of this process. We will be operating on behalf of the community and we warmly invite anyone who would like to help us secure a bright future for Jubilee Pool to get in touch with us via our website at jubileepool.co.uk.”

Adam Paynter, Cornwall Council’s deputy leader and chair of the project steering group, added: “The transfer of Jubilee Pool is a great example of devolution in action. Devolution at its most worthwhile is about finding the best long term local custodians of an asset, in this case a pool that is valued and used by the local community. I applaud the Friends of Jubilee Pool for taking up the challenge.”

Cornelius Oliver, Cornwall Councillor for Penzance Central, said: “Whatever organisation is responsible for its financing and operation, the Jubilee Pool belongs to the people of Penzance. It is a very important part of the history and identity of our community, I am proud to have contributed to its renewal from the start of this project and look forward to my future involvement.”