BY Marc Waddington

CLOSING Crewe Baths in favour of a joint venture with MMU Cheshire could spell the end of one of the Flag Lane pool’s oldest watersports clubs.

Members of the Icicle Scuba Diving Club say the current facilities have been their home for more than 40 years, but if the baths is closed, they fear they will have to compete with students and other groups for space at any new site.

Andy Heslop, secretary of the club, which has more than 30 members from teenagers to the over-60s, said many pool managers are reluctant to allow diving clubs to meet in their facilities.

“It’s very difficult for diving clubs as it is because many managers don’t want you to bring all the equipment into their pools. They sometimes say you have to provide your own lifeguards but not all lifeguards know what’s going on when you’ve got divers in the water. As a result, it’s hard to find places to meet.

“We worry it will be difficult to get a place if they go for a new pool, because the university will want its students to be able to use it.

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