Pupils' new pool is in the pipeline

Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date published: 19 October 2016


A PLANNING application has been submitted for a £2.2 million hydrotherapy pool at Kingfisher Special School.

The Chadderton primary school, whose pupils have severe and complex special needs, launched a fundraising campaign last year to replace its existing pool which is several decades old and is in a poor condition.

As well as providing therapeutic benefits to pupils and helping to improve their quality of life, it will be available to others to use.

The Foxdenton Lane school has still to hit its fundraising target of more than £500,000 to top up the donations and pledges it had already received.

However, it has already submitted the planning application to avoid delays with the building work when it does.

Outbuildings and rundown garages will be demolished to make way for the pool which will be attached to the school, but will also have an external entrance to allow others to use it.

There will also be changing rooms, a caretaker's office, a plant room and storerooms, and neighbouring parts of the school could also be refurbished, which would include creating a new physiotherapy room.

Depending on the amount of money raised, a courtyard could also be turned into an atrium with tropical plants and paths to create a mini rainforest.