The team at Greenbank Pool in Street say they are heartbroken at having to mothball the venue for the whole of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, Street Parish Council agreed to provide the pool with a £32,000 grant to help it safely mothball for the year and to prepare for reopening in 2022.

The team at the pool say the 2021 closure decision was taken after looking at how long it would take for the general population to be vaccinated, plus restrictions on numbers, and how that would impact the financial situation of the venue, which is run as a charity.

Greenbank Pool secretary Sarah Todd said: "Many people will be aware that Greenbank Pool has been facing some difficult decisions over the last few months as we planned to open for 2021.

"We did not open in 2020 due to the safety concerns and the considerable financial implications of opening during a pandemic.

"With the onset of another lockdown due to the rapid spread of the new variant, the Greenbank Team have had to consider if we will be able to open this year.

"It is with great sadness that we have had to make the tough decision that we will have to remain closed in 2021. The reason is all down to what will happen with Covid-19 over the next few months.

"While a national vaccination campaign has started, it is not going to be anywhere near complete by April or May, when we had hoped to open. Other issues include restrictions on numbers and ensuring that all our swimmers remain safe.

"Over the past two years we have invested heavily in pool improvements – updating our boilers, upgrading the wet play area, improving the changing rooms and our water supply.

"These developments have meant that our financial reserves have greatly reduced and we have had to ask the Street Parish Council for their support.

"Street Parish Council have been generous and have offered the pool a grant of £32,000 to help mothball it this year and prepare for next year.

"We are now working together to look at a more sustainable future for the pool and a successful reopening in 2022.

"Thank you to everyone who has got involved over the last few weeks and contacted us with their views and offers to volunteer at the pool. We are incredibly grateful for your support and ideas.

"We have listened to your love of season tickets and your desire to return to the long days in the sun beside the pool.

"Many of you have made suggestions for new developments at the pool, including cold water swimming and a longer swim season, and we will look at how this could be rolled out in future.

"Greenbank Pool is a charity and many of you have requested that we create a crowd funding site. We plan to set this up in the near future.

"There are so many of you in the Street area who love coming to our pool and we are very grateful for all your support."