College Supports Motcombe Pool Regeneration Plans

East Sussex College Media students supported a Listening Project at Motcombe Pool in Eastbourne earlier this month, as a Community Interest Company (CIC) strives to get the pool reopened to the public following its closure in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.

Media students helped film interviews with a number of storytellers which formed a listening project at the Motcombe Pool site. Visitors shared memories and stories of how Motcombe Pool impacted their life and their family’s over its 118-year history. Photographs and memorabilia were exhibited and interviews were recorded. It was a wonderful opportunity for connections to be made and stories revisited.

“It was a happy and optimistic day for Motcombe,” says Helen Nichols, Chair of Motcombe Community Pool CIC and Governor of East Sussex College. “Students were a great help in collating interviews and organised themselves conscientiously and diligently.I am confident that further events will follow.”

In January 2023 the Motcombe Pool CIC site stated, “Following its designation in 2022 as an Asset of Community Value the team have been working on proposals that aim to establish a forward-looking and sustainable future for the buildings and the pool, that is to bring both the building and pool itself back to life. Plans have now been initiated to enable part of the building to be reopened as a community space for committee meetings, community projects and fundraising events.”

The CIC is now working with Eastbourne Borough Council to analyse the implications for repairs and funding. Once these costs are finalised this will enable the first expression of interest for funding to be submitted.

East Sussex College will continue to follow and support the project on its journey towards rejuvenation of Motcombe Pool. Residents who want to share their story and support the project can contact Helen Nichols, Chair of the CIC at helen.nichols@eleuk.com. Motcombe Pool is one of only 12 historic indoor pools in the UK.