A SWIMMING group for blind and disabled people has decided to swim its final stroke as the planned closure date of Arthur Hill Swimming Baths looms closer.

The Reading Dolphin Swimming Club was founded in 1962 as a physical outlet for polio sufferers.

Today the majority of its 20 regular members suffer disability due to injury or failing eye sight. They meet at the open planned King's Road pool, which provides easy access for people with such conditions, each Wednesday.  

On December 18, a day before Reading Borough Council intend to lock the doors of the Edwardian baths for good, the Dolphins will meet for a final time.

Alan Hardie, Dolphin Club secretary, explained: “In the face of this setback the club explored other venues for our visually impaired and other disabled swimmers and their families.

“Unfortunately there is no alternative facility that meets our special requirements or is accessible, so the club must be wound up”.

Philip Vaughan, chairman of the Friends of Arthur Hill Memorial Baths, spoke of the positive impact having a physically and emotionally safe space to swim has had on Dolphin members' lives.

“I was in Arthur Hill recently and a woman was swimming with her two boys,” he said.

“The mother was totally blind. They were all having a really good, family time. They won't be able to do that anywhere else.

“I think it will be pretty life changing for members when the club closes. It's a social club as well as a therapy group.”

Councillor Paul Gittings, lead member for sport, said that all the groups using Arthur Hill had been offered access to alternative facilities.

"They have been offered alternatives and we would hope that they would be able to be accommodated within these," he said.

"All the pools in Reading are disability friendly, as they have to be by law. 

"I would suggest there are better pools within Reading for most club activities than Arthur Hill given the limitations of that site."

Although a closure date has been set by the council, activists are currently working hard to prolong the bath's operations.

The Arthur Hill Save Our Swimming group hope to raise £10,000 by December 31 as a signal of their intent, before work to fund the 105 year-old facilities in the long term begins in proper.

To donate to the cause, click here.