Reader letter: Why Fakenham needs a swimming pool
Olympian Amy Smith working with pupils at Scarning Primary School. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: Ian Burt
Whilst I am pleased for the Sheringham community to receive the news of a replacement Splash pool and I understand the enthusiasm of the Chamber of Trade for the project, the palpable neglect of the black hole in swimming facilities in other parts of North Norfolk is distressing.
Fakenham has been identified as the area of greatest deficit in swimming facilities in North Norfolk; in fact the nearest public swimming pool is half an hour away at Dereham.
Neither are there any school pool facilities, which have hitherto also been used by clubs.
The Fakenham Swimming Club has been forced to close; schools have to bus pupils some distance, which is not only expensive on cost but also on time out of the classroom.
It seems that council taxpayers are taking second place to tourists when it comes to investment in swimming facilities.
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The Eastern Daily Press initiative of a Summer of Swimming campaign, which was heralded by Amy Smith when she visited Scarning Primary School, is to be much welcomed but in Fakenham few children are able to swim outside their limited school lessons.
Depressingly it seems that generations of youngsters in the Fakenham area are being brought up with no water confidence or skills.
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IAN PONTON
Sculthorpe Road
Fakenham.
