Residents slam lack of facilities after pool closure

Residents left upset by the closure of a nearby swimming pool have criticised a lack of other leisure facilities in their local area.

The swimming pool at Oxford Brookes University's Harcourt Hill campus, in North Hinksey, shut in September - despite 2,000 locals signing a petition opposing the closure.

Those living in the area must now travel to other parts of Oxford, or as far as Wantage or Witney, to find their nearest leisure centre.

Local resident Annette Goodey told the BBC: "People should be able to learn to swim, and go and swim, in their local areas."

Another resident said without the pool there just "isn't the provision in Botley anymore - it's a real shame".

"It's really close by, we'd go there really regularly, and I just know that a lot of people around here are really upset by it," he added.

Parish councillor Chris Church said it was "a very long way to the nearest swimming pool now this one has shut".

He said the facility "clearly needs a major upgrade".

"We are cautiously optimistic that there will be facilities up there, but it's going to be another couple of years," he added.

Oxford Brookes closed the pool as part of plans to move all of its operations to its Headington Campus.

The university said: "The age of the swimming pool at Harcourt Hill, which was already at an end-of-life stage, meant that it was at risk of failing without significant work taking place."

The project costs of upgrading the pool were "not viable", it said.

North Hinksey and Botley are both in the area managed by Vale of Wight Horse District Council.

The authority said it had "no involvement" in the pool's closure and didn't support the university's decision.

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