Review rules swim pool must close

The nearest pool to Harlech will be Porthmadog's 10 miles away

Harlech swimming pool is to close in April after a review of all Gwynedd's leisure and sports facilities.

Gwynedd Council said the review had found the pool had "reached the end of its life" and closing it in would save £160,000 a year.

Members of a campaign group set up after the pool shut last month said they will fight any closure plan.

Sport facilities, including 14 leisure centres employing 175 staff, will cost the council over £3m next year.

Councillor Roy Owen, who leads on Lifelong Learning on Gwynedd council, said the report provided an "exciting opportunity" to co-ordinate the way sport, leisure and fitness opportunities are delivered across the county.

It would mean standards would meet the assembly government, Sports Council for Wales and the council's own aim for creating a healthy Gwynedd, he said.

I absolutely disappointed with this news Richard Holland, Harlech pool user

"The report strikes a careful balance between the need to deliver leisure facilities fit for the 21st century, offering a wide range of opportunities that meet the needs of customers throughout a large rural area," he added.

Users of the pool at Harlech had already been concerned about its future after it was closed temporarily in October due to an electrical fault.

"I absolutely disappointed with this news," said Richard Holland from Harlech.

"There is a group in Harlech already working to save the pool and we will be enlisting the help of our AM and any other politician we can," he added.

The report found also Bangor swimming pool is nearing the end of its life span, but the council said it is already looking at ways to make sure the city has a "leisure provision of quality" in the future.