South Wye Regeneration Partnership seeks to buy Belmont Pools in Haywod Country Park

8:00am Saturday 15th November 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

RESIDENTS of a Hereford suburb have asked Herefordshire Council to help bring two city fishing pools into public ownership.

The South Wye Regeneration Partnership (SWRP) launched a public appeal in July to fund the purchase of the Belmont Pools, in Haywood Country Park.

A 600-name petition was handed to council chairman Councillor John Stone by Wendy Jones, chairman of the Redhill Residents Association, at last week’s full council meeting.

The eight-hectare site is currently in private ownership and is made up of four acres of woodland and two man-made pools.

The pools went to auction in the summer but did not meet their reserve. Since then, SWRP has received pledges from Hereford City Council, Belmont Rural Parish Council and members of the public.

Will Lindesay, chairman of SWRP, said: “We see the purchase of the pools as part of a phased approach and, with this in mind, SWRP has requested that Herefordshire Council negotiates a best value purchase of the pools and woodland site to link in with the adjacent Newton Coppice already in council ownership.”

Councillor Phil Edwards, ward member for Belmont, said the council was well-placed to take on ownership of the pools.

“Bringing this site into public ownership will contribute to our vision to put people first, provide for our community, preserve our heritage, promote the county and protect our future,” he said.