Call for new pool strategy

News the trust which runs the Clive Pool will hand its management back to Hastings District Council highlights the need for a regional aquatic facilities strategy, says Sport Hawke's Bay chief executive Colin Stone.

The Clive War Memorial Swimming Pool Charitable Trust said it could no longer honour its contract with the council, which is the pool owner, after finding it too "financially challenging" to operate.

It operated on a $142,000 grant and had requested additional funds to take it through to the end of June 2013 but the council declined its request.

Yesterday, Mr Stone said a regional plan for aquatic facilities needed to be addressed with greater urgency.

"It is time that we looked at the model of aquatic facility provision as part of a wider sports facility blueprint."

"It has long been recognised that some of our aquatic facilities are generally not up to scratch, and we need to take a more strategic approach as to how we develop them, run them and maintain them," Mr Stone said.