A bid has been launched to save the pool at Gurnard Pines after its sudden closure.

As the Isle of Wight County Press reported last week, the building, which also includes a gym and which was repossessed in January, is being 'repurposed' and renamed the Phoenix Centre.

Site owner, GUPI Properties Limited previously shut down the fitness centre and pool unexpectedly, claiming a lease had been forfeited.

Two new companies were formed to run it: Phoenix Knights Limited, which will look after entertainment and the Phoenix Zone Limited, which will be responsible for the gym.

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Phoenix Zone Ltd's Terry Prosser initially said the swimming pool was not part of future plans.

However today (Wednesday), he has released a statement to say he had had a rethink.

He is considering charging £10 per day for the use of the pool, helping to pay for energy costs, which he says would be around £60,000 per year.

He said: "This is three times more expensive than we were expecting and pushes our monthly operating costs to aorund £25,000.

"If people are willing to pay £10 a day to use the pool and we can get at least 100 people to sign up to membership, we will be able to keep the pool open.

"I will be offering 'pool only membership' at £300 per month, but I must have a minimum sign up of 100 people.

"It means, once VAT is paid, we are left with £25,000 each month to cover the basic running costs of the pool."

He initially announced plans to 'repurpose' the pool area as a multi-functional spot for squash, badminton, basketball, indoor football, futsal and instructor-led exercise, with a plan to reopen the gym by March 6 and to run ticketed events by April.

It had meant disappointment for parents whose children were being taught to swim there by Elite Swimming School, which operated from the site and found itself being forced to cancel lessons.

In today's statement, Terry Prosser says he now wants to see if the interest is there to keep the pool open, before he considers partnering up with a professional swim school.

  • He has asked anyone who is interested to email enquiries@phoenix‐zone.co.uk

A first payment would be taken immediately.

The next payment would be taken when the pool reopens, he says.

If 100 people do not come forward, money will be refunded, the statement read.