Shrewsbury's public swimming facilities are in a precarious state, with the future of two new pools in doubt. The delay in their construction could leave the town without any public swimming facilities, as the Shropshire Council grapples with financial constraints. The proposed £28.8m extension to the Shrewsbury Sports Village, including a competition and training pool, has been put on hold until external funding can be secured. This decision has raised concerns among swimming groups, particularly the Shropshire Amateur Swimming Association, who fear the aging Quarry Pool in the town center may close before the new pools are completed. The Quarry Pool, rebuilt in the 1960s, has been deemed 'end of life' by the council, but no decision has been made on its future. Repairs at the pool cost the council £423,000 in 2023/24, and both the Quarry and Shrewsbury Sports Village failed to generate enough revenue to cover their operating costs. Graham Simcox from the Shrewsbury Underwater Hockey Club expresses concern that the Quarry Pool may close for good if the council cannot rebuild or refurbish the center. The council's capital strategy for the 2026/27 financial year includes shelving projects that require significant borrowing, and only infrastructure schemes that improve the authority's financial position are set to be given the go-ahead. This means that the new pools, along with other projects, may be delayed or canceled. The council's priority is to fund capital projects that bring in an income, such as a £575,000 investment to increase auditorium capacity at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury, which is expected to boost annual income by about £200,000 and pay off the investment within three years. But for swimming groups in Shrewsbury, the uncertainty surrounding the new pools is a cause for concern, and the future of public swimming facilities in the town remains uncertain.
