A swimming pool that was forced to close because of soaring energy costs is due to reopen.

Rye swimming pool will reopen its doors to the public from Monday, October 2 after its closure in November last year.

Rother District Council said opening hours and sessions offered may be different from before the closure due to ongoing issues with costs and recruitment. 

It is anticipated that Freedom Leisure, the not-for-profit charitable leisure trust that manages the facility, will seek to increase the initial offering as use of the pool by the community increases, the council said.

Councillor Hazel Timpe, the district council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and tourism, said: “We are delighted that, after almost a year, people will soon be able to use their local pool again, and are pleased that Freedom Leisure is doing everything it can to offer as much access as possible. I’d also like to thank Cllrs Simon McGurk and Cheryl Creaser for their support.

“It is vital that people now show their support and use the facility to ensure that its future is viable.”

Initially the pool will be open for limited days and times and this information will be published at www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/rye as soon as they are confirmed.  Opening hours will be kept under constant review in line with actual use by members of the public.

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Ivan Horsfall Turner, Freedom Leisure chief executive officer, said: “Despite the unprecedented and well-documented financial challenges our sector continues to face, we are very pleased to announce the re-opening of Rye swimming pool.

“We continue to work collaboratively with the council and the other local community groups to ensure the longer-term future of the facility.  We hope the people of Rye will see this as a positive initial step and support their local community sports centre now and into the future as we grow the programme.”

Rother District Council said it continues to work with Freedom Leisure, Rye Town Council and East Sussex County Council to ensure a sustainable future for the pool.

Richard Farhall, Rye town clerk, said: “Rye Town Council and the Rye Leisure Centre Community Working Group are pleased that a way has been found to re-open the pool – but will continue to work on a long-term sustainable plan for both the pool and the sports centre.”