FUNDRAISERS at Petersfield's much-loved open-air swimming pool have been monitoring the progress of their £75,000 re-tiling appeal. This week, Liz Bisset was at the swimming pool with her paint brush updating the appeal board to show that nearly £10,000 has been raised in just three weeks. A further £10,000 is expected from Petersfield town council – £5,000 as a grant, and in addition town councillors are applying for the use of £5,000 developer's contributions for the project. And the management committee already have £20,000 in their coffers towards the massive project, which it is hoped will be carried out at the start of next year in time for the 2008 season. And this week fundraisers have been given a welcome boost from former Petersfield mayor Bert Perry, who has been a strong supporter of the open-air swimming pool for years. Mr Perry is donating a £1,000 cheque to the re- tiling appeal, which he will receive as a member of the Portman Building Society when it merges with the Nationwide Building Society at the end of August. And now Mr Perry is urging other people in Petersfield who will receive what he calls an "unearned windfall" to follow his lead. Although Mr Perry objected to the merger which he said would mean the closure of the Portman office in Petersfield, he said the open-air pool was in "urgent need of a significant sum of money". "The Petersfield Herald has reported about this in recent weeks," said Mr Perry, "and I would like to remind newcomers to the town, and those too young to know about it, that the pool was built by public subscription, which meant that many people in the town gave money towards it. Therefore, should not we who have benefited from it help to maintain it as the good facility which it is?" Mr Perry added: "We should remember that it is one of a few of its type, offering the opportunity to swim outdoors in a large heated pool, and I know that some people travel quite a distance to enjoy it." He asked Herald readers to join him in passing on to the pool the unearned windfall they would receive. Gifts can be made at the pool, or sent to the supporters' secretary, Diane Harvey, 13 Broom Road, Petersfield GU31 4HG, or to fundraising committee member Vaughan Clarke, 26 Pulens Lane, Petersfield GU314DB. In addition, pool supporters can buy a tile priced £3 by making a donation at the HSBC bank in Petersfield, at the pool itself, or at the Petersfield Herald office at 24 High Street, Petersfield.
