Leisure service bosses are willing to consider bussing young people from Cowgate to local swimming baths if there is enough demand.
| We haven’t got very good bus routes in Cowgate. They don’t go where you want them to go. |
In an interview with reporters from the Children's Express news agency, Cowgate Leisure Centre manager Su Cumming sad she would consider such a scheme as part of an organised holiday programme.
Her comments follow the release of plans for a 5m community and sports complex to be built on the estate, for which more than 600 local residents were consulted, including children and young people.
High on the list of wants for young people was a swimming pool, but it has proved impossible to incorporate one into the proposed new building because of cost and the existence of other pools in the area.
"Swimming is an expensive thing to provide. To run a swimming pool would cost about 25,000 to 30,000 a month," said Su.
There used to be a swimming pool on the estate, but it closed in 1986 after being open for 15 years. Although it was used by local residents, figures show that it wasn't used sufficiently to justify it being kept open.
However, Su Cumming acknowledges that there is an unmet demand for swimming facilities in the area and although there are three swimming pools that could be used by local residents, they are difficult to get to.
"We haven't got very good bus routes in Cowgate to get to the baths. They don't go where you want them to go."
For that reason, said Su, she was willing to consider a scheme to bus young people to the baths during school holidays.
"It would be really good, if there's enough in interest and there are people prepared to put in a bit of effort."
She suggested that the best way forward would be for a co-ordinated approach between projects on the estate, the Cowgate Leisure Centre and providers of swimming facilities. "If there are enough people wanting to do it, then why not?" said Su.
She added that she would also be keen to see a deal done with Kenton School which would allow local residents to access their swimming pools.
About the team
This article was produced by editor Philip Lockyer, 16, and reporters Emma Dixon, 11; Lyndsey Smeaton, 10; Emma Allison, 10; and Ashleigh Rainey, 9. It was published in the North West Post in Newcastle upon Tyne.
