Kingfisher Leisure Centre Sudbury pool closes permanently

Babergh District Council shut the Kingfisher Leisure Centre pool immediately to ensure swimmer safety. Surveys revealed a planned £875,000 programme of repairs and maintenance would be insufficient, confirming a complete rebuild is now necessary. The sudden closure also includes the sauna and hot tub. The council said it was devastated and shared the community's sadness, with residents reporting the closure caused significant upset in the town.

Community mourns loss of a lifelong hub

Longtime users describe the pool as a beloved, intergenerational space. Dan Cotton, 53, recalled being excited when the pool first opened nearly four decades ago. He described it as breathtaking and like nothing the town had before, a perfect place to meet friends and have fun. Cotton expressed sadness that younger generations will miss out, stating that if the pool gave him joy, it must have given joy to thousands of others. Laura Allen said she was devastated and could not believe the pool was closing. Colin Plumb, 51, whose three children learned to swim there, questioned why the council did not act sooner on the ageing facility.

Vital access lost for disabled swimmers and rehab users

The closure removes a critical safe haven for vulnerable users. Laura Allen, aged 35, started a petition against the closure. She used the pool for physical rehabilitation after breaking her femur in a motorcycle accident ten years ago. At that time, she could not drive and was in a wheelchair, relying on friends and family to take her the mile or two to the pool. Allen has long used the pool as a carer and committee member for the Avocet Swimming and Social Group, which supports people with disabilities and has up to 30 members with carers. She described the group as a lovely little group and a safe haven where members do not worry about others' reactions. Allen warned that disabled swimming groups are dwindling and called the closure a very scary and profound loss for Sudbury.

Ageing pool reflects wider national decline

The Kingfisher Leisure Centre pool in Sudbury, Suffolk, is 39 years old and due to turn 40 next year. According to Swim England, the average life of a pool is 38 years, meaning this facility has already exceeded the average lifespan. Swim England's Decade of Decline report from 2021 warned about 2,000 pools could be lost by 2030 without major investment. The organisation suggested £1 billion in government investment is needed to build new pools and refurbish existing ones. Councillor Laura Smith, cabinet member for thriving communities, said the Kingfisher problems are not unique, noting other 1980s leisure pools suffer from similar issues as ageing structures reach end of useful life. Colin Plumb said if an asset nears end of life, planning and financial provision for replacement should occur.

Council explores options amid past repair failures

The pool was previously closed in 2024 for repairs to a broken roof panel. That closure stretched from one month to six months after further damage was found. The council said it spent about £400,000 since that 2024 closure in an attempt to keep the pool operational. Rebuilding the pool would now cost between £10 million and £28 million, a sum the council stated few local authorities can afford. The council said it is exploring longer-term options for swimming facilities in Sudbury. Colin Plumb said the pool is one of Sudbury's most important community facilities and priority must be finding a way to replace it. He warned losing it will have an extremely negative effect on young people, especially as other swimming facilities disappear. Dan Cotton added that without a pool, children may swim in the river, which does not always end well.

Operator Abbeycroft, a not-for-profit social enterprise which also runs Hadleigh Pool and Leisure, moved around 100 swimming lessons to another site within a week. All school swimming lessons for the term were relocated to either Hadleigh or Halstead Swimming Club. The council said it is actively exploring a range of funding options and will continue to fight for the funding the town deserves.