The Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (administered by Sport England) has agreed to make a grant of £82,600 to Herefordshire Council for capital investment to improve the energy efficiency of public facilities with pools in the medium to long term.

The objectives of the fund are:
?to reduce the energy consumption level of facilities in receipt of funding;
?to support the leisure sector to transition to a position of environmental and financial sustainability;
?to minimise the closure of swimming pool provision;
?to reduce the carbon output of facilities in receipt of funding in line with the government's Net Zero by 2050 objectives; and
?to prioritise support in those areas of greatest socio-economic need (as evidenced by IMD level).

The allocated funding will directly contribute to pool covers at Hereford Leisure Pool, and triple glazing to pool hall windows and variable speed pumps at Ross Swimming Pool. No match funding is required.
The Swimming Pool Support Fund fits with the following ambitions set out in Herefordshire’s County Plan:

?Minimise waste and increase reuse, repair and recycling
?Invest in low carbon projects
?Identify climate change action in all aspects of council operation

The project also meets the Carbon Management Plan pathway to carbon neutral 2030, identifying retro-fit opportunities in council assets to improve overall operational sustainability and support.