CRUNCH time has come for the future of Buckfastleigh's outdoor swimming pool.

Following a lengthy legal wait the matter of transferring the trusteeship of the pool, and surrounding Victoria Park, from Teignbridge Council to the Friends of Buckfastleigh Swimming Pool will be put to the council's executive committee for a decision on April 17.

The Friends of Buckfastleigh Swimming Pool are busy clearing the pool, hoping the decision will mean they can claim a £75,000 Sport England grant to repair and modernise the facility in time for summer opening on May 23.

The executive has been recommended to relinquish trusteeship of the Victoria Park Trust and appoint the Friends of Buckfastleigh Swimming Pool as the sole trustees of Victoria Park.

It's also recommended that the council enters into financial and operational agreements with the Friends and settles the matter of a public toilet block, which is partly within the trust land.

The matter is scheduled to be resolved at the Teignbridge District Council Executive meeting at Forde House, Newton Abbot, on Tuesday.

Friends' chairman Pam Barrett said: 'This is a crucial meeting for a decision that has been left very late.

'We do hope the executive do the right thing and give the pool to the people of Buckfastleigh. It's now or never. Heaven forbid if there's a further delay, as this will surely mean the end of the project.'

Ms Barrett said the Friends have started maintenance work for this season.

She added: 'We've had to run in parallel to the decision-making at Teignbridge.

'We can't wait for the decision before making preparations for the summer opening. If Tuesday's meeting finally seals the deal, contractors are ready to go in and mend the pool in time for opening.'

Legal delays, including Land Registry and Charity Commission rulings over transfer of land in trust, were believed to have put the Sport England grant in jeopardy, but this money is still secure if the transfer goes ahead at next week's meeting.

In the meeting's agenda it is noted: 'Transferring the trust assets to the friends has the support of the community of Buckfastleigh and will help sustain the future of the trust land, and in particular the swimming pool, at a time when public finances are under unprecedented strain.'

Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting in the council chamber, from 10am.

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