The closure of the De Smelte swimming pool in Smilde has stirred up many emotions. Councilor Gineke Radix of Positive Vooruit, initiator of the motion to close the swimming pool, received many telephone calls. “I was astonished. The motion was submitted with good intentions.”
The motion about the swimming pool in Smilde was submitted to draw attention to the subject, but reactions to it vary. According to councilor Gineke Radix, a lack of communication plays a role in this.
“The bill in March contained a small sentence: the swimming pool in Smilde must close. As Positive Forward we are in favor of that,” says Radix. “The council agreed with us and indicated that more research indeed needed to be done.”
But the research showed that it is actually impossible to keep the swimming pool open. “They told us that it indeed costs a lot of money. The swimming pool is almost fifty years old and so is the installation. In the long run you can no longer replace the parts.”
“We are also the sports hall manager, so over the years we have been exposed to all the disruptions. You can then wait politically until it goes away. Or you can do something about it and make it clear that it is not responsible to keep the pool open,” says Radix.
That is why Positive Vooruit has chosen to take action by submitting a motion and setting a date for the closure. “This way the municipality can sit down with people to see how we want to approach it. In addition, people can now look for alternatives, such as local buses that may have to run or another place for swimming lessons.”
According to Radix, the process has not been properly communicated with residents of Smilde. “The council has conducted a village tour, but there was not good enough communication with residents that this was going to happen. For example, Residents Platform Smilde could have contacted residents of ‘remember, this is about to happen.'”
Radix understands that the news can come as a shock to residents. “Everyone in the corridors knows this. We are one of the few municipalities that still has its own swimming pool. As a municipality you have to think realistically and see what is possible.”
According to Radix, the money that will be released now that the swimming pool will soon close will be reinvested in Smilde’s Vision. “The motion was passed with our conditions. One of the conditions was real, the money must be returned to Smilde. The elaboration may be a difficult process, but residents must trust that we will work hard for this.”
Radix indicates that in the long term the money may be invested in a multifunctional accommodation (MFA) or in making the village hall in Smilde more sustainable. “With this motion we keep control for the residents. We have shared all the joys and sorrows with the swimming pool and want to get out what is left in it.”