SWIM at 55

24/03/2026

How can we make the 2nd Pool a better experience for SEN Members?

Can you help please?

19/08/2025

Are you struggling to find availability for Swim Sessions?

Dear Member Can you take just a minute to answer a couple of questions to help us understand the scale of demand for additional Swim sessions? This email is particularly aimed at our Members from the Special Needs community that want to be able to book regular, scheduled sessions for the people in t...

10/08/2025

For more info WhatsApp Diane 07754050451

17/04/2025

12/03/2025

Second Swimming Pool Planning Approval

Back in early 2021, we wondered whether it would be possible to get some help with the running costs of our Swimming Pool by renting it out occasionally. We had no idea of whether anyone would want to use it. Wow - how little did we know. Since we opened as Swim at 55 in September 2021 we have had over 4000 Private Swim sessions - massively exceeding our wildest expectations.
As you will know, we get booked up many months ahead - and frankly if we had 10 Pools we'd fill them. The Planning approval for a second swimming pool means we'll be able to double our capacity, bringing privacy and control to so many more people that want to swim, but can't use Public Pools.

Have no doubt - we managed to get this Planning approval, with continued objection from some Wigan Planning Officers, only because of YOUR support. Your letters, your emails, your posts on the Wigan Planning Portal, your signatures and messages on the 1000+ Petition - eventually pursuaded the Planners that the Public Benefit argument was more substantial than the Conservation Area issue.

We have big plans for the future, not just the building of the new Pool, but also what improvements we can make to the existing Pool to make the whole experience better, and open to an even more diverse Membership.

We're also considering options to raise the required funds by inviting Swim at 55 Limited Share Purchase from within our current Member community. More of that in the next few days. So for now....

Thanks again - it's been a long, fraught journey - but the successful result makes it worth it in the end....

Huge thanks from all of the team at Swim at 55

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas to all of our Swimmers - thankyou for your terrific support all year. Let's make 2025 even better. Lots of love from the team at Swim at 55.

09/08/2024

Our Planning Application for the second swimming pool is now live. Realistically, this is the last chance we have to convince Wigan Planning of the desperate need for a second pool. If you would like to support this application please follow the link below and go to the Comments Tab. It's a bit of a faff, because you have to Register to place a comment BUT your support is really needed and appreciated - so if you can perservere - thankyou.

09/08/2024

Due to injury cancellation, there's a session available 1.30pm to 2.50pm tomorrow (Saturday) will need to be booked by me as it's too late for Online Booking. First to request will get it.

31/07/2024

All of the available sessions for Sunday were booked within minutes. Please support our campaign for a second pool (details will be posted in next weeks or so) so that we can double the overall availability. Thanks Steve

31/07/2024

4 Swim Sessions available for this Sunday (we had allocated for maintenance that's not needed). First come, first served.

04/07/2024

Second Swimming Pool- new Planning Application.

We are now at the final stages of Designing our Second Swimming Pool and will be submitting this for Planning Approval within the next couple of weeks. You may recall that Wigan Planning refused our last Planning Application for the second pool following one single objection from the Conservation Officer.

We have changed the planned location of the second pool to a position which meets the stated conditions of that Planning Officer - so we are very optimistic that this new Application will get approved.

BUT ..... we must not take that for granted. Realistically if we fail on this application it will be the end of our quest, and desperate need for the second Swimming Pool.

So - let's make sure we give it our best shot!

Can you please let me know, by replying to this Post if you are able / willing to offer any form of proactive support for our Application. I will collate all replies and then liaise individually with all of you that offer to help?

I am particularly keen to hear from those that have Special Needs or Special considerations as to why you use Swim at 55 and why there is such a compelling need for us to build, as soon as we possibly can, the second pool.

Thanks Steve and all of the team at Swim at 55