A swimming pool at the Tadcaster in North Yorkshire expects gas and electricity bills to more than double by the end of next year, adding 100 100,000 to their cost. Jane Nickerson, CEO of Swim England, says rising costs have exacerbated pandemic problems. Figure: Increasing energy bills could add 100 100,000 to the operating costs of the pools “It kills swimming pools, energy costs have risen by 120% and swimming pools are high energy users,” he said. “Before COVID, we predicted we could lose 2,000 swimming pools across the country by the end of the decade. Covid and energy have made it worse.” According to Swim England, the health benefits of swimming can cost over εκατο 350 million a year, with four in ten pool users saying it is their only exercise. At the Tadcaster Community Swimming Pool, which is run by a charity, the annual electricity bill is expected to increase from .000 50,000 to .000 135,000 when the fixed tariff expires in September. At current prices, their gas bill will double from 35 35,000 to .000 70,000 when this fixed tariff expires twelve months later. Chris Porter, director of the facility for the trust, says he planned to get away this year, but rising energy prices make that unlikely. “We have to see everything, how we work, the volunteer groups that come, the clubs that use it, the schools that use it, all the clients,” he said. “We are talking about an increase of over .000 100,000 over a period of twelve months in the future, we probably have a few years at this deficit level to stay open unless something changes.” Picture: Some families say they would not mind paying more to swim The Hugan family, enjoying Sunday swimming with about 80 others on the busiest day of the week at the pool, fears rising energy costs will lead to higher entry fees. Matt, Ali and four-year-old Violet paid 80 11.80 for their breakfast bath. “If you had to pay a few extra pounds to come, it would not be very bad, but for some families this will not be realistic,” said Hugan. “We are lucky that for us it is an affordable cost, but for some families this will no longer be an option.”