GOOD News: 4th March
Only one place to start this week … the great news that Fleetwood swimming pool will be reopening in May!
The closure of the pool since last year has been an emotive issue but also a complicated one. Access to sports and fitness facilities are vital to the wellbeing of a community, even more so as we look to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Thankfully a solution has been found with a successful bid by Wyre Council to the Government’s National Leisure Recovery Fund.
Well done to all those involved in securing the funding and to all the members of the community who showed such passion in support of reopening the pool. Now the challenge is to ensure the same situation does not occur again and that the pool and the other facilities are used to their potential. Operators will be sharing membership opportunities and Healthier Fleetwood is contributing to the community group looking at how the facilities can be further integrated into the social prescribing pathway. Two of the Town’s other community assets are celebrating good news too!
If you take a stroll or drive past Fleetwood Museum you are in for a treat as for the first time in over 2 years the frontage isn’t covered by scaffolding. Work has been completed to remove up to 10 layers of paint, repair and restore the original Georgian features with stunning results!Fleetwood Museum will be reopening later this year in-line with the easing of social-distancing and will be launching their new exhibition 'Fleetwood Women'.
Meanwhile plans for a new community hub at the former Fleetwood hospital building have been approved recently. The Fleetwood Trust will create a large café hub, teaching kitchen, co-working spaces, multi-purpose studios, meeting rooms and offices in the unused ground floor space as well as repurposing part of the existing car park as a new community garden. With planning permission in place discussions continue with partners and funders.
One of the future events planned for the hospital is the 'Inside Out' art exhibition with LeftCoast.
Fleetwood-based artist Gillian Wood is coordinating exhibits created by local residents during lockdown and there’s still time to get involved and submit a painting, sculpture or even a knitted seagull. See the Inside Out page on Facebook or contact Gillian by phone 07956 788477 or insideoutexhibition@gmail.com
If you are feeling creative Emmanuel Church would like your help too. They are putting together a ‘virtual procession’ and want to include artwork from local residents celebrating the traditional, themes of Easter. Email johnmclellan@emmanuelfleetwood.org.uk for info.
A different ‘procession’ will return as Park Run events are set to resume in the Summer.
Around 100 people of all ages regularly took part in the Fleetwood Promenade event on Saturday mornings before the suspension, the spectacular coastal views making it a popular choice for visitors as well as residents. You can read the statement from Park Run UK here and details of arrangements for Fleetwood will be announced by the local organisers in due course.
Did you see Wal and Dion Mitchinson from Fleetwood featured on BBC North West TV news this week?
The amazing duo have shared their vocal performances on-line throughout the last year, bringing joy to nearly 100,000 followers on Facebook at the Father & Son Karaoke page. If you missed the report it is on the iPlayer here but you will have to be quick as the link expires on Thursday evening! Wal and Dion are on just after 20 minutes into the broadcast.
The latest figure for Fleetwood residents who have received their first COVID vaccination jab is now 10,841, a continuing success story thanks to the dedication and efforts of everyone involved. Best wishes to the children, parents and staff as schools reopen next week, an important stage in the return to normality but also an anxious time. Thank you to everyone who has been making preparations and will be working hard to keep everyone safe and well. Until the next time, take care.