SUPPORT from the community has secured the opening of Ashburton’s swimming pool this year.

Volunteers running the community pool have confirmed the facility has been ‘saved’ thanks to generous donations which have funded 60 per cent of the cash needed to pay for significant repair work.

A spokesman said: ‘We are pleased to announce that we have just received confirmation from our contractors that they will be on site in early April which puts us on track for our aspirational grand re-opening on Sunday May 24 at the start of the half term holidays.

‘We are only here due to the amazing fund raising efforts and donations from you, the people of Ashburton over the winter.’

Last year, the pool needed £100,000 to pay to fix major leaks or the pool faced closure.

But now, the community has raised more than half the money which means repairs can go ahead and could lead to the pool lasting another 20 years.

The pool has been drained which has given engineers better access to see which areas need repairs.

Organisers running the pool have set up a ‘phased approach’ and are planning repairs for this year which will cost between £20,000 and £30,000.

More work will be needed next winter.

A spokesman said: ‘We took it over from the council when they decided not to run it.

‘The deal is that if we can run it as a viable pool, great, but if not it goes back to the council ownership.

‘We have been really amazed by the amount of people popping up and giving us money.’

‘There is a huge amount of love for the pool that has been a key part of the town for the past 80 to 90 years. Somehow we always pull through.’