It is almost exactly ten years since the last Save The Pool campaign.

The 2015 Save The Pool Campaigners have set up a pop-up pool outside the Community Shop in Bury Street to demonstrate the alternative if the Open Air Pool were to be filled in. They say the only way of keeping the pool, which first opened in 1952, is if people choose Option A after going to the Community Shop or http://tinyurl.com/AbbeyMeadow.

Inside the Community Shop the Abbey Meadow development options are outlined: Option A (Pool +), Option B (Cafe +) and Option C (Variety), and there are experts on hand from VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council) to answer questions.

Refurbishing the pool and making it structurally sound for the future could cost around £250K – so about half the budget. Refurbishing the changing area will take another £150K. But people could choose to get the pool done and not the changing area – perhaps improve the kiosk and add some seating instead.

Similarly the Cafe will take up a lot of the budget as it will be in an area prone to flooding.  Having taken advice VWHDC did not think an operator would be interested in financing the building stage, but once built, operators would be willing to run the cafe.

None of the options include improving the Sustrans cycleway to make for better dual cycle and pedestrian use, but Option C could take some pedestrians onto additional nature walks. None of the options appear to keep the pitch and putt either.

I gathered that VWHDC hope to get a clear mandate from this consultation.

Everybody in Abingdon should already have got a letter about voting in the forthcoming elections for parliament, district council, and town council.

1. Postal Vote
The quickest and easiest way is to vote by post. To do so you need to register by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2015 – for an application form see www.southandvale.gov.uk.

2. Polling station.
About three weeks before election day you will be sent your official poll card and details of your polling station. To cast your vote at your polling station you need to do so between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 7 May 2015.
Polling stations are:
The Guildhall
Hadland Road Community Centre
Preston Road Community Centre
Long Furlong Community Centre
Scout Hut Farm Road
Northcourt Centre
Abingdon United Football Club
All Saints Methodist Church
St Johns Ambulance Headquarters
Jephson Common Room (may now be called Stonewater Common Room)
North East Abingdon Community Centre

3. Proxy
You can also ask a friend or family member to make the trip to the polling station or return a postal vote on your behalf. To find out more visit: www.southandvale.gov.uk or call 01235 540310. Applications must be received by Tuesday 28 April 2015.

If you miss this chance to vote the next one will be May 2019 for town and district, and May 2020 for national elections, by which time there will be a lot more water under the bridge.