9:09am Tuesday 9th June 2009
St Davids swimming pool has closed its doors for the last time, but only after residents staged a final show of defiance.
More than 50 people packed into the pool shortly before the set closing time of 1pm last Sunday, while a further 40 waited outside. As a result, the pool remained open until 3pm before users staged a barbecue and farewell party.
The group were hoping for a last minute reprieve, claiming they were awaiting the outcome of a legal injunction on Friday that challenged the decision to close the pool before the planning process was complete.
However, at the time of the Western Telegraph going to press, no confirmation of a decision by the Civil Justice Centre had been confirmed, and a council spokesman said they were not aware of any injunction.
In attendance on Sunday was TV celebrity Jerome Flynn, who described Pembrokeshire County Council's conduct throughout the affair as "appalling".
"St Davids has one of the best records in the area for teaching young and disabled people to swim," he said.
"The decision to close it makes a mockery of the reason it opened in the first place, to prevent drowning.
"St Davids is surrounded by water and the sea is not a good place to learn to swim."
He added the council had been "totally insensitive" to what the community wants.
Mr Flynn's comments follow criticisms from Pembrokeshire AM Joyce Watson, who in an Assembly debate last week labelled the closure an "undemocratic decision".
"The results of executive decisions are binding in communities and can have devastating consequences," she said.
"The closure of St Davids swimming pool was made in such a way."
Ms Watson has been a vociferous supporter of the pool's public campaign, and earlier this year petitioned for the council to grant the group more time to submit a business plan to fund the facility themselves.
However, council leader John Davies, accused her of being 'out of touch' with the workings of the council. Cllr Davies added: "The decision to close the pool and invest in a new £1.3 million facility was made after proper consideration" he said.
"The County Council gave the pool group the opportunity to submit a viable business plan to run the pool."
He added it was 'interesting' that Ms Watson, a former county councillor, did not attempt to call in any decisions of the executive during her time in office.
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