THE future could possibly be looking brighter for Cardigan Swimming Pool as this week it welcomes two new co-managers.

Over the last few years, the future of the pool has been hanging in the balance – both financially and with a high turnover of staff, but newly-employed Emma Pegg and Laura Winter, both from Cardigan and past Cardigan Secondary School pupils, are hoping to change things around for the better.

“It’s going to be a big job, but we are hoping we are the right people for it. We both love fitness and we want to bring the building up to date and make it profitable,” said mum-of-three Laura.

“We have loads of new plans for the place with new classes being introduced with new instructors.

“We are also delighted to have Mandy Verrall, who runs her popular swimming teaching company called Teifi Tiddlers here and has done for as many years as we can remember.

“We will also be refurbishing the gym and building new partnerships within the community.”

New classes will include a circuit-style class and Cavekidz with Derek Burton, a jump class with Jodie Low and an MMA mixed martial arts fitness class.

A school disco will be organised and a Worley Gig including a large water slide will be held during school half term holidays.

Laura added: “Both Emma and I have our hearts in this and it’s more than just a job. It is a huge challenge but we are confident in taking the pool forward and to ensure its success. We want to make it a place where people want to go to and meet up and to use its facilities.”

Cardigan-born and bred Emma says that she has already seen an influx of people coming to the pool since she and Laura took on their new roles and feels positive for the future.

“We both want the same for this place and two heads are better than one,” she said.

“We know the building, that’s 45 years old, isn’t in the best condition, but it’s still standing.

“We will get funding, we will use local contacts for help and we will ask the community to come together so that the pool does have a future here in Cardigan with one maintenance team on board to help us. At the end of the day, we will keep going,” said Emma.

A fundraising coffee morning has been organised in the Guildhall in the town on Saturday, March 31 from 9am-noon. Tea and coffee and cakes will be sold as well as a raffle.