The ‘Save Swimming Pool De Smelte’ working group has handed over its plan to preserve the swimming pool in Smilde to the municipality of Midden-Drenthe. In the working group’s preferred scenario, De Smelte becomes a low-incentive regional swimming pool, the swimming pool should have a broader care function and the municipality remains the owner.
Swimming pool De Smelte dates from the 1970s. At the time it was a modern swimming pool with a movable floor. But over the past thirty years, little maintenance has been done other than the bare essentials. The municipality of Midden-Drenthe contributes 25 euros per unique visitor.
The municipality announced last fall that it wanted to close the swimming pool after this summer, but that decision was completely wrong for the Smildegers.
Midden-Drenthe had previously investigated what should be done with the very outdated swimming pool. Research agency Antea Group investigated four scenarios: maintenance, optimization, disposal and closure. The working group is now adding one more: transforming into a regional swimming center.
The working group proposes that the swimming pool should have a broader social function. The working group wants to bring exercise, rehabilitation and therapy under one roof, making the swimming pool a low-stimulus accommodation.
In its transformation proposal, the working group emphasizes that it wants to maintain the swimming pool and phased renovation. Because the working group also believes that renovation is inevitable, they believe it can be ‘relatively simple to investigate’ how the swimming pool can be made more stimulus-free, such as the use of materials that allow softer light and less noise.
Therapy and rehabilitation could be provided in the swimming pool itself and in the additional areas, the proposal states. ‘By combining such facilities with the existing swimming facilities, De Smelte can grow into a broadly applicable health and exercise facility for the entire community.’
According to the action group, exploratory discussions have been held with several healthcare parties and social organizations, in which one organization has so far shown concrete interest.
The working group also prefers that the municipality remains the owner and operator. ‘The working group emphatically does not opt for divesting responsibilities, but for a joint further development of the existing facility.’
Renovation of the existing accommodation has a price tag of 4.5 million euros, the municipality previously calculated. The working group states that this can be done cheaper, based on a calculation from an external company. ‘The difference between the two approaches is therefore roughly 1 to 2 million euros.’
The working group’s preferred scenario is now being examined by the council. In September the municipal council will decide on the future of De Smelte.