Help Save Ward Freman Pool

UPDATE MARCH 2024

A charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) has been set up by local residents and is working with Hertfordshire County Council in order to acquire the swimming pool. The pool itself is now drained and still standing, there was a fear that without the water the sides would collapse. Therefore worse case scenario has been averted and a more accurate assessment of the condition of the pool tank (the hole in the ground) and tiles can take place. With this report we will know exactly how much money we need to raise and run it as a community owned pool.

The Ward Freman Community Pool Group CIO is looking into obtaining grants (primarily the Community Ownership Fund which has helped many other swimming pools) to fund the majority of the repair work, but one criteria of this grant (and many others) is the need for demonstrable community support and fund raising. If we can raise £200 000 (through donations and fundraising events) then this could be matched with £800 000! Therefore your donation however small (or big) will help us reach our goal of getting the Ward Freman swimming pool open for the benefit of the community by the community.

NOVEMBER 2023

Having heard about the lack of funding Ward Freman Pool has received over the past 6 years it is very sad to find out that the pool is looking to close on 23rd December due to health and safety reasons. The main reason the pool will need to be closed is the filtration system as well as the boilers being over 25 years old and cracked tiles on the floor of the pool with a possible leak.

To introduce myself I'm a Buntingford resident and also own Attend2Health in Buntingford. When I was a student I also worked as a lifeguard and swimming teacher and I have two children.

We are looking at all options for the pool but the most likely at the moment is to set up some sort of charity to run the pool and then we can apply for lots of match funding to support this. If for whatever reason we are unable to save the pool which I really hope isn't the case we will look to support another good cause in Buntingford or due to the money back guarantee Go Fund Me provide, you can request a refund.

Please help us raise money to save this vitally important pool. The nearest pools to Buntingford are over 10 miles away and with very limited public transport they are difficult to get to if you can't drive. It is such a vital service in the town it would be a tragedy to lose it. With 5 schools in Buntingford if they all have to get coaches to the next nearest pool it will cost them a lot more and also take so much more time out of the school day.

Every donation helps us show how much support there is for this pool and also please make a comment with the donation as well as the more information we have to support our cause the better.

Thank you so much for your support.