Community rallies round after Broomhill Pool is vandalised

The KLH team at work on redecorating at the pool Archant

The Broomhill Swimming Pool in Ipswich which is set for a major renovation project required a mini facelift after vandals damaged it with graffiti.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

The site, which has been shut for 13 years, has been kept clean and graffiti-free for seven years by the Broomhill Pool Trust and Community Payback.

But after vandals broke in and daubed the site just hours before a visit from the mayor of Ipswich, the community rallied round to rectify the damage.

Staff from KLH Architects, which is overseeing the redesign of the historic pool, were joined by volunteers from the Broomhill Trust and the Broomhill Library Friends to scrub the graffiti and give the area a fresh lick of paint.

Alan Wilkinson, from KLH Architects, said: “It is vital to everyone involved in the project that we have the full support of Ipswich Borough Council and everyone knows that first impressions count.

“The pool could be a fantastic asset which will sit at the heart of the community when fully restored.”

A public consultation last year revealed 95% of participants wanted to see the pool re-opened.

Mark Ling, of the Broomhill Trust, said: “It’s such a shame that one or two oblivious people decided to graffiti the site when so many people are working hard behind the scenes to bring our dreams of the pool re-opening to reality.

“It will benefit so many people here in Ipswich and will be an attraction which will bring people into the area.”

A Heritage Lottery Fund bid has been submitted, with the result expected to be announced in September.