The Blue Pool site has officially been taken over by Melksham Town Council, marking a significant step in plans to reshape the town’s leisure and entertainment facilities.
The acquisition, completed this month for a nominal £1 cost, follows a unanimous vote at March’s full town council meeting to finalise the transfer from Wiltshire Council. Councillors have described the move as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to create a community asset that will benefit the town for generations.
“This is an asset that the whole town has enjoyed with their friends and families for years, and it can be again. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create something meaningful for our town and its people.” said Melksham’s Mayor Tom Price.
The Blue Pool, which originally opened as an open-air swimming pool in 1957, closed in 2022 when its services were relocated to the Melksham Campus. Since then, discussions have been ongoing about how best to use the site, with proposals to integrate it with the adjacent Assembly Hall, which is owned by the town council.
In January, architects visited both sites to assess their potential and draw up a proposal for what could be developed. The vision, set to be presented in May, will be reviewed by the new town council following the local elections on 1st May.
In 2023, the Friends of Melksham Assembly Hall group proposed combining the sites into a multifunctional entertainment and museum centre.
Cllr Graham Ellis, who is standing down as a councillor this year, has been a strong advocate for the town council taking ownership and developing the Blue Pool site and amalgamating it with the Assembly Hall.
He said, “I am delighted Melksham Town Council has taken the step of buying the Blue Pool from Wiltshire Council. I look forward to seeing the progress of this exciting project in the years to come, and I commend to new councillors the current use and strong community support for the Assembly Hall. I entreat them to take things forward in a way that ensures continuity of business through the changes, and to proceed in a measured manner so that the project does not become a financial burden on local ratepayers.
“It can be done – I would not have been such a strong advocate for this during my time on the council if I had thought otherwise.”
Cllr Price added, “Plans for the building are still unknown, but I would love to see it combined with the Assembly Hall to create a great community asset for the whole town and surrounding areas to enjoy.
“There is still a lot of work needed to ensure we make the right decision for this space. I have heard lots of ideas from councillors and have some myself, but this needs to be led by the people of Melksham. Please share your ideas and hopes for this space with your local councillors and the council itself.”
Pictured: Melksham town councillors at the site of the Blue Pool
