A WEST Dorset swimming pool will not re-open at Easter as usual without “immediate” funding of up to £20,000.

Trustees of Beaminster Community Sports Association, known as B-fit, are appealing for community funding after it was revealed the pool has been making a loss “for some time”.

Volunteers at the pool have been replaced with full-time qualified staff. The condition of the pool and the building has started to deteriorate recently, resulting in increased maintenance costs. B-fit also believes that “significant structural work” may be required.

David Witham, trustee and chairman of B-fit, said: “We recognise that this is an important community facility, but we cannot ignore the fact that significant funds are needed to cover the losses and invest in the pool infrastructure in order to maintain a safe and healthy swimming pool, and compete with other local pools.

“We are open to exploring all options with interested parties, but if the pool is to remain, then we will need a big commitment from the wider Beaminster community, both as paying customers and as volunteers, donors and council tax payers.”

The income B-fit receives from local schools and the Beaminster public does not cover the costs of the pool.

B-fit was provided with some start-up funding when it was set up in 2010, but it does not receive any on-going public funding - meaning it is entirely dependent on revenue from the schools and other members of the community who use the pool.

The £20,000 funding needed will only cover the shortfall in running costs of the pool for the 2016 season, including the cost of essential maintenance to enable it to re-open at Easter.

Further funding will be needed to cover running costs beyond 2016 and it is likely that large-scale capital investment will be needed within the next five years.

Mr Witham added: “Please be assured that the dry-side facilities managed by B-fit, including the sports hall, 3G football pitch and the fitness suite, are ring-fenced from the pool and are totally unaffected by this announcement.

 “Beaminster School and some of its feeder schools are enthusiastic users of the pool, but the income from them does not fully cover the pool’s costs and there are simply not enough members of the public attending the public swimming sessions, swimming lessons and aqua-fit classes to make up the difference.”

Discussions are under way to see if the pool can be kept open under a new management structure with alternative sources of funding.

Any member of the public wishing to contribute to these discussions should email info@bfitleisure.com and are invited to join B-fit trustees for an open discussion at 7pm on Tuesday, January 26 in the Learning and Resource Centre at Beaminster School.