Around £250,000 of government funding has been secured for public swimming pools in Carlisle, Wigton and Workington.

Cumberland Council successfully bid for the money as part of the Swimming Pool Support Fund phase two after securing £350,000 last year as part of the phase one application process.

It has recently been announced that £254,227 capital support was granted by government.

Sport England is managing the fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The fund aims to reduce the energy consumption level of facilities in receipt of the funding, compared to baseline, and support the leisure sector to transition to a position of environmental and financial sustainability.

Cumberland Council secured the following funding. The funding will be used to install Photo Voltaic (PV) panels (Workington and The Sands Centre), pool wall insulation (Wigton) and pool covers (Workington and Wigton).

  • The Sands Centre, Carlisle

Operated by GLL on behalf of Cumberland Council

Funding received: £72,750

  • Workington Leisure Centre

Operated by GLL on behalf of Cumberland Council

Funding received: £134,127

  • Wigton Baths

Operated by Wigton Baths Trust

Funding received: £47,350

Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s executive member for vibrant and healthy places, said:

"Our officers responded quickly to the bid for funding, and I am delighted that they have secured an additional £250,000 for pool provision in Cumberland.

"The funding was only available for existing swimming pools and will be used to install environmental measures in the three pools’ sites.

"Successful pools had to meet the government's criteria and compete against other applications across England."