ALMOST £3 million would be needed to reopen Broomhill pool for the next 10 years according to new figures published today.That sum is too much for Ipswich council to fund and the only way to reopen the pool would be to get outside funding, probably from the national lottery.

ALMOST £3 million would be needed to reopen Broomhill pool for the next 10 years according to new figures published today.

That sum is too much for Ipswich council to fund and the only way to reopen the pool would be to get outside funding, probably from the national lottery.

But councillors will also be told this week that it would cost £405,000 to demolish the pool – and listed building consent and planning permission would have to be obtained before any such move could go ahead.

A review of the borough's swimming facilities reveals that £466,000 needs to be spent on repairs and maintenance to Crown Pools over the next five years, and £251,000 needs to be spent at Fore Street over the same period.

If a flume and river ride was installed at Crown Pools that would cost a further £200,000 and improving changing facilities at those pools – one of the key demands of users – would cost £500,000.

And new training pool and diving pool at Crown Pools would cost about £2.5 million.

The review is due to be discussed at Ipswich council's full meeting on Wednesday evening – but no firm decisions on its future will be made then.

The report is to be discussed again by the council's executive later in the year – which will start to decide the future of the town's swimming facilities.

The vast majority of the public responses wanted to retain Broomhill pool – including a 15,000-signature petition.

The review warns that Sport England does not give grants to outdoor pools – and does not see the Ipswich area as needing extra swimming facilities so would be unlikely to give funds for any improvements to Crown Pools.

However it might be possible to get money from the Heritage Lottery fund because of the importance of Broomhill as a 1930s lido.

It would also be necessary to raise money for any work from the private sector and the local community.

nIs Broomhill pool worth saving? Would you be prepared to pay more to restore the pool? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk