Abercynon community members have pooled their ideas together in a bid to refurbish and re-open their local paddling pool next summer.
Action for Abercynon War Memorial Paddling Pool was set up as a community group by 13 local people, when they discovered the pool at their local park would not open in 2014 for the first summer in 62 years.
All outdoor paddling pools in Rhondda Cynon Taff were initially closed this summer due to sweeping cuts to public services – with the exception of Ynysybwl where local people raised money to acquire the lease from the local authority.
And now the people of Abercynon look set to follow suit, as they have been told a suitable business case submitted to RCT Council by November 20 would secure the lease, while they must raise £5,000 for costs and upkeep.
The wheels are now in motion to begin the fundraising effort, with a 1940s party at the Brownies Bar in Abercynon on November 7 first on the agenda.
Annette Wilson, 56, fundraising co-ordinator for the group, said: “This summer was the first time in 62 years the pool did not open and the committee was formed as soon as we found this out.
“It was started by grandparents and there are now 13 of us – a real mix of young and old with different contacts and areas of expertise.
“A lot of parents turned up at the pool with their children this summer, only to find out that it was closed.
“The pool is so popular – in the Phase Two documentation for the cuts Abercynon was top of the list for being used.
“We are now in the process of completing a business plan, and if we do that and can also raise £5,000 RCT Council have said they will gladly hand over the lease for the pool and the play area next to it.”
The pool was officially opened as a war memorial on May 31, 1952, by Councillor Lil Watts.
Annette also added the group has a long-term plan for the site and hope to open it for many sunny summers to come.
“We are telling people it is going to happen and we are very confident that it will,” she added.
“The pool is also a war memorial and we have now registered it with the Memorial Trust and we are looking for a suitable statue of something unique to be put up.
“We want to make it better than it has been in recent years, and back to what it was in its heyday that we can all see in old photographs.
“Like many others, I didn’t go on holidays when I was younger and grew up in that pool!
“It usually opens in July, just before the schools break up. But there’s nothing to say we can’t be a bit more flexible with opening times in the future – for instance being reactive to the weather, and also opening during the school half term holidays.”
The group’s initial plans also include opening a cafe next to the pool for users to enjoy.
