FUNDING to the tune of £180,000 is needed to secure the long-term future of Haltwhistle’s outdoor pool.

The plant room at Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre, which houses boilers and other essential equipment, has not been upgraded since the facility opened in 1975.

Maintenance of the outdated system, which is relied upon to heat the centre’s two pools, has become increasingly difficult, with vital parts now obsolete.

Centre manager Maxine Wilson insisted that there is no short-term threat to the outdoor attraction, which has been popular with children and adults for over four decades.

But she admitted that the plant room equipment must be replaced urgently to ensure swimming facilities remain at Haltwhistle in the future.

She explained: “The plant room is the heart of the centre. It contains the equipment which heats the pools and controls the temperature.

“We need to raise £180,000 to replace this vital equipment, but I must stress that whilst it is old and obsolete, and parts are becoming increasingly difficult to replace, it is currently still working.

“We have no plans to stop swimming here, and will work tirelessly to raise the funds needed for a new plant room.”

Mrs Wilson said the centre had already raised £20,000, through finance secured through section 106 funding, cash set aside from housing development for leisure and recreation purposes.

She added: “So far we’ve raised £17,700 from section 106 funding, with the remainder coming from our own initiatives.

“These have included our recent swimming gala and afternoon tea event, while we are planning a disco, and we have someone willing to do a skydive.”

The centre is exploring other sources of capital funding, and also has the backing of Active Northumberland.

Staff and volunteers at the centre have launched a new campaign “Our dolphin needs a new heart”, which encourages people to buy wrist bands and hearts which can be stuck on to a fence outside the centre.

To support the campaign, visit the centre or call (01434) 320727.