Campaigns 

I launched and presented a Parliamentary petition to bring back swimming Pool facilities for Falmouth.

 

Swimming all year round is something we shouldn’t take for granted. The benefits are vast, which is why it is so important, especially for our young people, that everyone has the chance to learn in a safe environment.

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This formal Parliamentary petition calls on the Government to support the development of swimming pool facilities in Falmouth, following the 2022 closure of the town’s only public pool.

 

Falmouth juts out into the Atlantic, defined, geographically, economically, and culturally, by the sea. From sailing and shipping to ferrying and, crucially, swimming, the ocean is central to life here. Despite this deep maritime identity, Falmouth is the only Community Area Partnership in Cornwall without a public swimming facility.

 

Recent figures from a primary school in Falmouth show that the percentage of children unable to swim 25 metres has surged from under 10% to 50%. Without a local pool, schools are having to transport pupils up to 40 minutes away to gain swimming skills, an option that is expensive and unsustainable.

 

Swimming is not just a sport, it is a life skill, especially in coastal communities like ours. Every child in Falmouth and surrounding areas should have the opportunity to learn to swim safely and affordably. Losing the pool has left a gap in education, safety, and community health.