Faversham Pools seek to secure future of swimming in Faversham

Faversham Pools seek to secure future of swimming in Faversham

26/03/2025

Faversham Pools’ Board of Trustees has made an in principle decision to explore participation in Swale Borough Council’s (SBC) leisure contract, alongside the leisure centres in Sheppey and Sittingbourne. On Wednesday 5 March, Swale Borough Council’s Community & Leisure Committee also voted to include Faversham Pools in the tender. If this process moves forward, a new operator will be appointed through the SBC tender process to manage and run all three sites, effective from April 1, 2027.

After careful consideration, the Board of Trustees determined that this was the best course of action to protect access to swimming in Faversham for the long term, safeguard the Pools’ heritage and secure much needed capital investment in the pools. Without this action, there was a significant risk the Pools becoming financially unsustainable in a few years’ time, due to significant cost increases related to energy, national insurance and national minimum wage costs, and repairs and maintenance at the Pools.

While this decision is still subject to a further vote by the Board upon finalising the detailed specification for the service, which is expected by June, significant progress has been made. Trustees, along with the General Manager of Faversham Pools, are currently working closely with SBC and their consultants to shape the future of the pools through the development of the service specification.

“We want to be clear that while discussions are underway with SBC, no final decision has yet been made to hand over operation of the pools,” said Michael Ellsmore, Co-Chair for Faversham Pools. “We are actively engaging with SBC to ensure that the terms are right for our charity, the pools, and our community. Ultimately, any decision will depend on the Trustees being satisfied with the proposal.”

While the operation of the pools day to day would be the transferred to SBC under the new arrangements and the indoor pools, currently leased by Faversham Pools from SBC, will revert to SBC ownership upon transfer. The outdoor pool, which was built in 1964 with funds raised through public subscription, will continue to be held by a charity. We are working with partners including Faversham Town Council to identify a legal structure which ensures that there remains local ownership of the outdoor pools, ensuring its legacy is protected.

“Through this new phase, we aim to preserve the rich legacy of the outdoor pools while continuing to serve our local community,” said the spokesperson. “We are committed to protecting the long-term future of the pools, securing much-needed capital investment, and ensuring that the outdoor pools remain a much-loved part of our community for generations to come.”

Once all decisions have been formally made, SBC will conduct a tender process, with a Faversham Pools trustee represented on the evaluation panel. The new operator will begin managing the pools from April 2027, although visitors should notice little change in their experience. The pools will continue to operate as usual, with any significant changes expected behind the scenes and over time as the facility benefits from capital improvements.

The move aims to bring consistency to swimming services across Swale, aligning policies and support across all three leisure centres. Trustees are committed to ensuring the Pools staff  will be protected through this process, transferring into the new provider. Trustees believe that joining the combined contract is in the best long-term interest of the charity and will ensure the pools thrive for the next 10-15 years.