A BID to build a new public swimming pool in Minehead has taken a step forward after two community groups joined forces to move the project forward.

Minehead Health & Wellbeing (MH&WB) and Minehead Swimming & Leisure (MSL) have teamed up to work towards the pool.

MSL is a Community Benefit Society established in 2020 to build a community-owned indoor public swimming pool and leisure centre.

MH&WB is a Community Interest Company established in 2024 to provide facilities – including a swimming pool – to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.

Key individuals from both groups have long been working towards these aims, motivated by the closure of Minehead’s Aquasplash facility in 2008.

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Bruce Lang, a director of MH&WB, said: “MH&WB Directors have considerable experience in project development, local government, finance, public health, fundraising, leisure, swimming development and education. MSL has wide experience in community consultation and structures. We make an ideal partnership.

“There is a lot of work to do, but by working together and combining our local knowledge and expertise, we hope to deliver a project that will benefit all of the local Minehead and West Somerset community.”

The groups’ joint vision is for a 25-metre pool suitable for year-round use, as well as a gym to be used by the community and as a base for the West Somerset GP exercise referral scheme, enabling it to develop the current, very well-subscribed offer.

The groups said they will try to raise the costs of the build from a variety of grant funding sources, as there are new opportunities becoming available later this year.

Once it is built and ready to operate, the groups intend for it to be a community-owned facility run as a co-operative.

They have now requested Minehead Town Council to formalise its support for the project and earmark land at the Recreation Ground, in Irnham Road, for the facility.

Peter Wellstood, founding director of MSL, added: “The two groups have a lot in common when it comes to our ambitions for the local community, and we view our coming together as a real boost towards finally making the facility a reality.

“MSL values the relevant backgrounds and skills of the MH&WB directors and feels we all have the best chance of being successful by closely collaborating.

“It remains important to us that the facility be community-owned under MSL’s original model.”

Next, the project will be carrying out a wide community consultation exercise, in order to come up with robust forecasts for usership and revenue.

Residents in West Somerset who wish to demonstrate their support for the project, and eventually have a stake in the ownership of the community-run facility, can find out more at www.mineheadswim.org/join.