Frequently Asked Questions

We are two not-for-profit companies made up of local volunteers in West Somerset. Minehead Swimming and Leisure Limited (MSL) was formed in 2020 as a Community Benefit Society (CBS), and Minehead Health and Wellbeing (MH&WB) was formed in 2024 as a Community Interest Company (CIC).

The two groups have Directors in common, so we are truly joined up. MH&WB is taking the lead in the project’s fundraising, planning, design and build stages. Once built, MSL will operate the facility, which will be community-owned. As a CBS, we are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – you can view our details on the FCA website here.

As a Community Benefit Society, MSL is owned by its members. Yes, that means the members will own the swimming pool! Because we are running MSL as a co-operative, we are able to issue something called “community shares”. Each share costs £1 (a one-time cost) and their value doesn’t change. It’s like when a company has shareholders, but our shareholders are you, the people of West Somerset.

Anyone who resides in West Somerset (or has a connection to the area) can become a member. This entitles them to receive updates, elect the Board of Directors and attend meetings to have their say in the project.

Of course, you are welcome to buy more than one share (as a contribution to our fundraising), but each member gets only one vote, regardless of how many shares they own.

Once up and running, the pool will essentially be run as a co-operative. Find out more about what a co-operative is here.

That’s the million pound question. Several million actually, according to our early estimates.

The project groups are seeking grants to build the facility. We are currently prioritising these sources, but if we are not successful in raising enough this way, MSL is prepared to seek repayable finance to cover the shortfall. Once open, it would run like any other business, and make money to pay back its debts.

The definitive location is dependent on surveys, planning permission, and other factors, but we are planning for the facility to be located at the Minehead Recreation Ground at Irnham Road, where the old grandstand used to be (currently vacant land). Building at the Recreation Ground will allow the pool and associated facilities - new and existing - to form an integrated “Community Leisure Hub”. Minehead Town Council (owners of the land) has designated the land for this purpose.

At the moment, we think it is going to take until around 2029 for the pool to open. This depends on funding, planning permission and local support.

There are a few privately-owned pools in the area that can sometimes be used by the public, however they are small in size, inadequate for aqua-therapy, not available for single swimmers, not accessible to those living with a disability, and/or their opening times are restricted to only certain times of the day, week or year. They do not adequately meet the swimming needs of the people of West Somerset.

We have done research and financial modelling and believe it to be financially viable, yes. In addition to the population of Minehead itself, the pool will also serve many surrounding towns, villages and rural areas of West Somerset; the total catchment population is estimated to be 27,000 people. There are many community-owned pools in the country, some with a smaller catchment population, which have been running for decades! The fact that some county councils are no longer willing to fund swimming pools isn't necessarily due to their financial viability, it is often a choice that reflects their over-stretched budgets and competing needs. 

Minehead Swimming & Leisure is the successor to what used to be called the Minehead Swimming Pool Project. Pre-pandemic, the project did conduct some small-scale fundraising activities, such as collection pots in shops, and these funds were gratefully received and rolled over into MSL. In fact, these funds were instrumental in covering some basic costs to allow us to progress the project to the point it is at today. To date, there has been no large-scale fundraising, nor major donor funds received, although we are currently in the process of applying for grants. While the publicity for community members to join the Society by buying shares will raise a small amount of funds, it will not cover the build costs; the main purpose is, in fact, to garner public support for, and participation in, the efforts to bring a swimming pool back to Minehead.

The single most important thing you can do is join MSL as a member, by buying one or more shares in the Society. This will be crucial in demonstrating to donors and other stakeholders that the project has the strong backing of the local community. 

You can also show your support by playing the Somerset West Lottery and choosing Minehead Swimming & Leisure as your “good cause”. We get a small but steady trickle of funds coming in from the lottery, which is an important contribution to allow us to keep going.

Finally, we have a Facebook group where you can leave your thoughts on the project. This is a public group and anyone, whether they are a member or not, is welcome to join.