CARDIGAN Swimming Pool and Sports Complex users and staff are celebrating after winning a grant of £12,500 in the M&S Energy Fund Competition.

Voters in Cardigan have secured the funding which will go towards buying solar panels for the swimming pool, which will be placed on the roof.

Securing this funding has been vital for the swimming pool in Cardigan which has faced severe cuts for many years.

Due to increased year on year cuts in funding from traditional support channels there have been a were £19,000 combined cuts last year.

With an increase in utility bills, the complex has been struggling to make ends meet.

The swimming pool will now be able to place solar panels on the roof which will help slash running costs considerably.

The announcement that Cardigan swimming pool won this funding came yesterdayon Monday, October 31.

Cardigan swimming pool trustee, Sharon Griffiths said: “I am very pleased to announce that Cardigan swimming pool was the winner of the Wales and south west category in the M&S Energy Fund competition. The amount of funding was for £12,500 specifically for Solar PV.

“This is going to reduce our huge annual electricity bill.

“It’s going to make a difference on so many levels. We are absolutely chuffed to bits. A massive thanks to everyone that supported the swimming pool.

“This is just the news we needed to keep positivity up and give us the boost to keep trying to turn the complex around.”

Trustees of Cardigan pool have previously stated that the centre is more than just a pool because it’s a pillar in the community.

Generations of Cardigan residents have grown up learning to swim at the town’s pool and the solar panels will give this important community facility a brighter future.