The pool annual meeting held on July 18 was told that following last winter’s financial crisis, Settle Area Swimming Pool is now operating on a sound footing.

Pool users and supporters heard that a number of measures had helped avert the crisis that at one point threatened the closure of the centre.

The drop in energy prices had been a major factor with the monthly gas bill now half the £5,000 it had been earlier in the year. Other factors identified by outgoing chair Colin Coleman were the £27,000 in donations received, mainly as a result of fund-raising events; a revised insurance policy that had freed up £40,000 for investment; and the £21,000 from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund that had been used to extend the bank of solar panels and as a result would cut energy bills still further. The two charity shops that raise more than £80,000 a year and are staffed entirely by volunteers remain crucial to the success of the pool.

The meeting was told that the number of centre users was up, especially in the fitness classes and that thanks to the efforts of staff and trustees the pool was now operating more efficiently.

Several trustees stepped down at the annual meeting, including chair Colin Coleman. A plea was made for pool supporters to consider standing as trustees next year when treasurer Rosie Sanderson is due to step down and a replacement will be needed for that crucial role.

Chris Hirst and Mike Smith are now joint chair of trustees and Ken Larkins and Ian Dryburgh have joined the board – Ian as vice chair. The retiring trustees Iain Crossley and Rob Brown were thanked for their contribution and special mention was made of former trustee Elaine Owen who sadly died earlier this year, after making a great contribution especially in the areas of health and safety and insurance.

The annual meeting coincided with the 50^th anniversary of the start of work on the pool building in 1974 and to mark the occasion Chris Petrie, whose father, Kevin, chaired the trustees for a number of years spoke of his family’s contribution to the pool and read a piece on pool history written by his father a number of years ago.