A YORK swimming pool which was threatened with closure now looks set to win a new lease of life.

The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) says it is continuing to work towards a transfer of the pool in New Earswick to the Friends of New Earswick Swimming Pool (FoNESP), with a view to handing it over by the end of the year.

There was dismay last year when the trust announced it was to close from this March, as it was running at a loss of £132,000 per year and would cost £1.3 million to renovate.

The decision sparked a campaign to save the pool, and FoNESP was founded as a charitable limited company.

Now the trust has issued a statement saying that since negotiations began six months ago, good progress had been made on key areas that needed to be agreed before any handover could take place.

“During these six months, we have developed an excellent working partnership with FoNESP,” it said. “They have worked hard to take the transfer forwards, and we want to thank them for their dedication and perseverance.

“We are now working towards agreeing the terms of a 25-year lease. When the terms are agreed, the FoNESP will take on the responsibility for maintaining the pool building, managing its facilities and running its activities.”

FoNESP co-chair Andrew Calverley said it was pleased the trust had decided to clear the way to finalise granting the pool lease to the group from January 1, and thanked supporters, from the parents of children learning to swim to York Outer MP Julian Sturdy.

He thanked trust staff for their time and effort, adding: “We look forward to giving the pool a new lease of life and hope it can play an important part in the life of New Earswick.”

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