No pool for Newbridge
Swimming Pool Underwater
There are no plans to provide a swimming pool for Newbridge, a new councillor in the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District has been told. Officials were responding to a motion on the matter put down by Cllr Tom McDonnell.
When told there is no financial provision for a pool in the MD in the Council's 3-year Capital Programme, the councillor said there is "no funding for anything to do with youth."
The report said the Council was exploring the possibility of a Popup Pool in the area, but this would be subject to the provision of a funding source, such as LPT, and also to the Department and Swim Ireland work programme.
Following a question on the possible cost of such a Popup Pool, a figure of €40,000-€50,000 was mooted. Cllr Suzanne Doyle noted that under the Capital Programme, the next pool in the county would be in North Kildare. She said a Popup Pool for a town the size of Newbridge wasn't a good idea, and that she wouldn't be in favour of spending €40,000 or more on one. "We can do much better things with that money."
A full pool facility could cost at least €8 million, the meeting was told. There was further discussion on the possibilities of seeking a public-private partnership with some of the large local businesses in the town.
