EFFORTS to build a new swimming pool for the people of Minehead have suffered a setback as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Minehead has been without a publicly-operated swimming pool since West Somerset Council approved the closure of the Aquasplash facility on Seaward Way in 2008.

Somerset West and Taunton Council – which replaced West Somerset in 2019 – has secured £10,000 from the Hinkley Point C construction for a feasibility study into a new council-run pool.

But this study has been put on the back burner to allow council officers to deal with the local response to the pandemic – including the support of existing leisure facilities elsewhere in the district.

Councillor Richard Lees, portfolio holder for sport and leisure, brought a brief update on the issue before a virtual full council meeting on Tuesday evening (February 23).

He said in his written report: “Any feasibility study will likely take time and will need to reflect the impact of covid on the wider leisure industry.

“The scope for the feasibility study is still to be agreed. Officers are currently prioritising their time on the existing service and our response to covid.

“As such,it would be difficult to commit to a time frame by when the study will be complete.”

The former Aquasplash site is now occupied by the town’s Lidl supermarket, which was granted approval in June 2015.

Those wishing to swim in Minehead now have to rely on the community-run pool at St. Michael’s Church of England First School (which is run as a charitable venture by the school), or pay to use the Butlins facilities.

The nearest council-run swimming pools to the town​ are in Taunton, Wellington or Tiverton over the border in Devon.

Mr Lees said he was keen to pursue the Minehead pool study as soon as he had sufficient officer time.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “I am keen to understand if there is a viable option for a swimming pool to serve residents in the Minehead area of Somerset West and Taunton.

“A bid for £10,000 towards the study was made for funds from planning obligation money associated with Hinkley Point C.

“However, the scope and time-scale for a feasibility study is currently under review, as the impact of covid-19 is still being felt across both the council and the leisure industry.”

The council and its leisure provider Everyone Active have jointly applied to Sport England’s £100M national leisure recovery fund, with a view to covering the costs of shutting all its leisure centres and swimming pools since the third national lockdown began.