THOUSANDS of residents young and old have learnt to swim at Taunton's iconic swimming pool, and now you're being invited for one last dip as it prepares to close its doors. 

The 88-year-old pool at St James Street will be closing its doors on Sunday, July 10 ahead of the new pool and facilities opening at Blackbrook later in the month. 

The pool has only been used for swimming lessons and private functions for many years, but is opening its doors to everyone throughout its last week.

The public sessions will take place on:

Monday, July 4 from 6pm-9pm

Wednesday, July 6 –from 2.30pm-4pm

Friday, July 8 from 2.30pm-4pm and 5pm-8pm.

In addition to the 25m six-lane community swimming pool, Blackbrook will offer a separate 13m teaching pool which will be used for early years swimming lessons as well being opened up for public swimming sessions.

The Blackbrook Pavilion Swimming Programme will consist of a variety of activities from SwimSchool lessons, public swimming sessions and lane swimming, as well as family fun sessions and specialised aqua classes for fitness, pre and post-natal and adult only Swimming.

The full programme will be available to customers from July 16.

The council’s leisure partner, Tone Leisure, was successful in securing sport England funding for a Pool Pod which will also provide state of the art access to the pool for customers with disabilities.

Cllr Catherine Herbert, executive councillor for Sports, Parks and Leisure, said: “The new facility hand in hand with our recently refurbished Station Road Pool forms part of the council’s overall vision for replacing the water space of St James Street to meet our growing community needs.

“By sharing the programming between both pools it will for the first time enable families to take advantage of a pool and learner pool facility. These are real investments in our leisure provision in Taunton Deane which have increased public swimming time by 60 per cent.”

The new facilities at Blackbrook will also include a luxury spa with treatment rooms, a changing village, and a Coffee Corner complete with Wi-Fi.

  • Did you learn to swim at the pool? We want your memories and pictures. Get in touch by emailing danielle.morris@countygazette.co.uk, or tweet @GazetteDMorris