Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many local authority swimming pools have closed in last 10 years.

The government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to swimming pools, as swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. The responsibility of providing this access lies at Local Authority level, and the government continues to encourage Local Authorities to support swimming facilities.

At the Spring Budget, the government announced a package of over £60 million to support swimming pools, which is targeted at addressing cost pressures facing public swimming pool providers. It will also help provide investment in energy efficiency measures to reduce future operating costs and make facilities sustainable in the long-term.

Between September 2013 and September 2023, 294 swimming pools closed (across 162 sites owned by Local Authorities). Over a similar period from 2014 to 2023, 256 swimming pools were built by Local Authorities (across 144 sites). Facilities can close for a number of reasons, including being replaced by a new site or to align with the strategic objectives of the local authority.