Somerset Council has been awarded £211,208 from the government's Swimming Pool Support Fund (Phase 1). 

The money will be divided across five swimming pool facilities within Somerset at Frome Leisure Centre, Shepton Mallet Lido, Wells Leisure Centre, Brean Splash and Burnham-on-Sea Swim and Sports Academy.

The funding is designed to help swimming pool operators with the increased costs of utility bills and swimming pool chemicals.

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts said 'We are delighted to have received funding from Phase 1 of the Swimming Pool Support Fund.

"These funds will provide welcome support to the operators of these five sites at what is a financially challenging time for swimming pool operators and will support them to continue to provide public swimming, positively contributing to residents' health and wellbeing as well as providing a place for local school children to learn to swim. "

Somerset Council has also submitted an application to Phase 2 of the Swimming Pool Support Fund which will provide grant funding for capital investments to help swimming pools become more energy efficient.

We await the outcome of our application for Phase 2 which is expected in the new year.

Find out more about the Support fund at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nearly-200-leisure-centres-supported-by-swimming-pool-support-fund