Hydrotherapy pool hopes are dashed

Work on the facility, which has been an aspiration of the school’s board of governors since the new building opened in 2005, was expected to start in February 2010, with an opening date of January this year.

However, the £650,000 project has failed to even get off the ground, with the Northern Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB) announcing it is “on a long list of prospective building schemes for schools, none of which has the necessary funding to proceed”.

The NEELB was prepared to fund the day-to-day running costs of the pool, and a commitment was in place from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust to provide staff for the scheme. The school has also raised over £50,000 towards the project.

But a spokesman from the board said the fate of the pool was always dependant on funding from the Department of Education (DENI), which has not been forthcoming, meaning that the project has been unable to progress to the tender stage.

He added: “The board has a very limited budget for what are termed minor works. The Department of Education has set out criteria by which boards should judge whether schemes should have priority or not. Health and safety and emergency work has a higher priority than schemes which are seen as desirable but not essential, such as the pool at Roddensvale.

“A detailed business case was sent to DENI for their approval, but unfortunately the building of the pool did not meet the Department’s approval. It is impossible at present to say when funds will be available, but the scheme will remain on the list for consideration to be included in future programmes.”

Principal John Madden told the Times he was “bitterly disappointed” at the outcome, and claimed that the entire Larne community would be losing out.

“Hydrotherapy has tremendous benefits, providing a weight-free environment that allows pupils to be free of wheelchairs and other restrictions and enjoy a greater range of muscular movement. We once had use of the pool at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown, but time in the water with a physiotherapist was limited to 15 minutes and the journey time detracted from the benefits. It was also stressful and tiring for both the pupils and the staff involved. Having our own pool on site would have allowed us to provide hydrotherapy to our pupils three times a week.

“I am passionate about wanting to do the best for these children. There was huge anticipation for this project, which would have benefited the wider community. We were on the cusp of achieving it and architects’ designs were already drawn up, so it is very disheartening to see it fall at the final hurdle.”

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Parents have also been voicing their disappointment at the decision. Lorraine Blair, whose 14-year-old daughter Jenny attends Roddensvale, said the loss of the pool was a “devastating blow” to the school and the town.

Jenny has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and osteoporosis, so she suffers from joint contractions making it dangerous for her to exercise on dry land. The temperature in a normal swimming pool is to cold for her, but the heated water in a hydrotherapy pool helps to relieve these problems.

Lorraine, treasurer of Roddensvale Parents and Friends Association, said: “Jenny used to go to the hydrotherapy pool at Jordanstown, but it has been years since she has had access to it. She is mentally handicapped and cannot tell me in words how she is feeling, but I remember the look of pleasure on her face when she was in that pool.

“Children like Jenny are the most vulnerable section of society and have no voice to speak out against this decision. First the school had its music therapy programme taken away and now this.

“There is so much support for Roddensvale within Larne and many people had high hopes for this project. The community helped to raise over £50,000 towards the cost of this pool, and it now feels like they have been let down as well.

“Mr Madden has also been fantastic and is not prepared to give up on this issue. The children are always his first priority, and he makes no apology for that.”

Lorraine and another member of the Association, secretary Helen Ferguson, have raised the issue with East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson in the hopes that project can still be taken forward.

The DUP man told the Times: “I am extremely disappointed at the decision not to proceed with the hydrotherapy pool, especially considering that the NEELB were very supportive of it in the past. I have contacted the Board about the decision not to proceed and they have informed me that the pool is not a priority project. I will of course continue to press the Board and the Department to include this important facility in next year’s building programme.”