The news that Halo has to close Ross Swimming Pool for nine months to allow for extensive refurbishment and improvements to the facilities was met with dismay by many regular users.

A group of about 30 people attended a meeting at the Larruperz Centre to discuss the closure of the swimming pool facilities. Scott Rolf, chief executive of Halo, gave a very detailed account of the changes to the building that were to start in September. He pointed out that the changes are needed to raise revenue and make Halo self sufficient by April 2016 when Herefordshire Council will have withdrawn all financial support.

As result of the upgrading of the gym and addition of a fitness studio Halo anticipate a very significant increase in membership so that the costs of the scheme would be paid back on time without need to increase the costs to the customers.

Annoyance was expressed by the swimmers that the users of the pool had not been consulted before the closure was announced.

Christopher Deane, who organised the meeting is to meet with Andrew Talbot (Head of technical services) to explore any ways of reducing the pool closure time. Council Atkinson was also present and thanked the Halo team for their hard work and said he would, as a director of Halo, feed back the feeling of the meeting to the Halo board when it next convenes.

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.