Petition in the House of Commons – Jayne Kirkams’ instagram @jaynekirkhammp
On Wednesday, 5th November, Jayne Kirkham (MP for Truro and Falmouth) presented a petition to Parliament calling for a new swimming pool in Falmouth.
Since the closure of Ships and Castles in April 2022, there has been no other 25 metre swimming pool within a half an hour drive. Leaving the local community and the new generation of children without the facilities to learn to swim safely.
Dozens of local businesses, schools and even GP surgeries signed up to host copies of the petition. With almost 6000 signatures, Pendennis Leisure founder Gemma Adams said just how impressive this was, considering “the town’s population is just 24,000”.
The deputy speaker and even the clerks were impressed with the number of signatures the petition received.
This shows just how big the fight is to bring back swimming pool facilities to Falmouth, especially as it is a town surrounded by water “learning how to swim is not just important – it is life-saving.” States Jayne
Jayne Kirkham and Matthew in London with a petition – Jayne Kirkham’s instagram @Jaynekirkhammp
Primary schools in Falmouth have reported a sharp decline in the percentage of children leaving Year 6 who could confidently swim a distance of 25 metres. For Cornwall as a whole, that percentage is now just 69%, and for Falmouth, it is likely to be lower.
May Angelini spoke with Leah Wright, a swimming teacher at Truro Leisure Centre, to gauge the impact this closure has had on surrounding swimming pools and to understand the importance of this petition.
“Lower-income families struggle to pay for private lessons in Falmouth, which are in hotels,” Leah says. With families now having to travel further to take their children to lessons.
Centres like Truro have “limited pool time in the day to facilitate the number of schools needing swim lessons, so students aren’t receiving the ample amount of tuition, and they are leaving lessons, not being able to swim the expected standard of 25 metres.” Leah Wright.
Going forward, Jayne and her team remain deeply committed to the community in reopening a swimming pool. And hope that Parliament take into consideration the amazing 6000 people who are fighting for this to happen.
To find out more, go to https://www.jaynekirkham.co.uk/campaigns