Blue Pool plans stall as ‘no money’ in budget

Plans to redevelop the Blue Pool site have stalled after Melksham Town Council confir-med no funding has been allocated in this year’s budget.

The council took over the site from Wiltshire Council, which previously housed the Blue Pool until its closure in 2022, for a nominal £1 in April 2025. At the time, councillors described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity and said they wanted to make it a priority for creating a long-term community asset.

Architects were invited to visit the site last year to create a plan for transforming the space. Options included integrating it with the adjacent Assembly Hall, which is also owned by the town council. Ideas included combining the sites into an entertainment and museum centre.

However, the council has now confirmed there is no money allocated for the project in the 2026/27 budget, meaning it is unlikely to progress before 2027/28 at the earliest.

In the meantime, the council’s amenities team has temporarily moved into the Blue Pool site from its base in Bowerhill.

Cllr Adrienne Westbrook said the design work remains at an early stage.

She said, “The meeting with architects was an informal meeting to explore what could be achieved with the space. There were many presentations and absolutely no decisions were made. When this moves to the next stage, it will need to come to the full council in a public session.

“However, there is no money in the budget for the 2026/27 year, so the reality is that this will be in the next financial year 2027/28 at the earliest.

“Residents will be kept up to date via regular updates at council. Potential plans will be shared with residents but it is far too early, and there is no budget for this at the moment. Officers will be looking at grants and potential funding sources for the preliminary work needed to move this project forward.”

As part of the amenities team’s move into the space, temporary cabins are also being installed for storage and office space, along with electric vehicle charging points for the team’s new vehicles.

The council says the move is, “to save money and bring the team closer to the main group, both geographically and personally, strengthening collaboration and benefiting everyone overall.”