Councils pledge £120k to save Devon seawater pool

Torbay Council and Brixham Town Council have pledged £60,000 each to a scheme to repair a seawater pool in Devon.

The pledges have come after a request from the Shoalstone Seawater Pool Community Interest Organisation (CIO), which is applying for funding from the UK government's Community Ownership Fund for 80% of estimated repair costs.

The volunteer-run CIO has identified a two-stage engineering project costing £850,000 to fix the structural problems at the pool in Brixham and has launched a fundraising appeal.

The funding pledge from the councils is subject to the CIO being successful with grant applications.

Shoalstone Pool was created in 1926 from a natural rockpool and has faced financial insecurity and structural damage from wave action and storms.

Brixham Town Council voted unanimously to pledge its £60,000 at its meeting in November, which was attended by Torbay Council's Brixham Ward councillors and leader David Thomas.

Torbay Council then voted unanimously to make its own £60,000 pledge at its meeting in December.

Mr David Thomas, Torbay Council's Brixham Ward leader, said: "We see how important Shoalstone Pool is to the people of Brixham, and we want to back that up with the offer of £60,000 of match-funding alongside Brixham Town Council, as requested."

Follow BBC Devon on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.