Ipswich MP Tom Hunt MP and Central Suffolk & North Ipswich MP Dan Poulter are both backing Broomhill Pool, with a bold bid by Ipswich Borough for additional funds from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The bid is one of two submitted by Ipswich Borough Council, and in the case of Broomhill Pool is seeking to bridge a funding gap to enable the lido’s restoration to be started.
To recap, all funding pledges from Ipswich Borough Council (£1.5m), Fusion Lifestyle (£2.1m) and National Lottery Heritage Fund (£3.4m) were in place and works were due to commence April 2020. However, covid and lockdowns hit, causing Fusion Lifestyle to Furlough 3000 staff and mothball all the 140 leisure facilities they operate. Fusion’s income was knocked for six, while construction inflation escalated due to disruption to global supply chains and materials.
In December 2021, Fusion secured a loan (from IBC) for their stake and the project. However, in March 2022, Russia invaded the Ukraine, disrupting global energy supplies and resulting in a massive inflationary spike in energy and materials.
The Broomhill Pool Trust (www.broomhillpooltrust.org) is convinced that all the stakeholders are committed to getting Broomhill Pool done.
Ipswich Borough Council includes the “regeneration of Broomhill operated by Fusion Lifestyle” in their 2020-2030 Sports Facility Strategy and have taken the initiative with this Levelling Up Fund bid to secure the funds needed to bridge the inflation gap. The bid outcome is likely to be known in Autumn.
Photos from Tom Hunt’s Post (Friday 15 July):
Broomhill Pool Trust 