The hundreds of people that signed a petition to save the Tinwald Pool are being encouraged to also make their views known when Council considers the district’s outdoor swimming options during the Long Term Plan process starting soon.

Outdoor swimming options, including at Tinwald, are proposed for the draft plan, and the community will be asked for their say during consultation early next year.

Council formally received the Tinwald Pool petition last week.

The pool is not opening this summer because it needs major repairs and Mayor Neil Brown said its future will be decided as part of the LTP.

“Whatever decision we come to while working out a draft plan, it will go out for public consultation. Whoever wants to contribute to the Long Term Plan will have another opportunity to tell us what they think.”

Cr Phill Hooper presented the petition to Council last week on behalf of Tina Cox, who organised it online and gathered 872 signatures from people living inside and out of the district.

The rationale for not opening the pool this summer was based on failing plant at the outdoor pool, leaks and difficulty finding lifeguards.

Cr Hooper said Tina and other signatories were not happy that the pool would be closed this summer and wanted to save it in the future.

The pool was managed by the Tinwald Reserve Board and local community until it was required by law to have lifeguards, then Council absorbed it as part of its operations at EA Networks Centre.

Mayor Brown said it was good to see the people of Tinwald using the petition process to express their views to Councillors.

“We have advice on our website for people wanting to organise and present a petition to Council and staff are happy to help.

“At last week’s meeting we also had a resident use the public forum part of our meeting to share his views with Councillors on disabled access at EA Networks Centre. It’s great to see our democracy encourages people to come in and express their views to council.”