THE COUNTY'S swimming pool operators have voiced their frustration at being barred from opening next month.

Cumbria's swimming pools will remain closed despite the Government giving pubs and hairdressing salons the green light to open from July 4 as lockdown regulations ease.

Siobonne Brewster, owner of Dalston Leisure Pool, and Mark Sesnan, CEO of Greewich Leisure Ltd, which runs swimming pools in Carlisle, Copeland, Allerdale and Eden, have called on the Government to reverse its decision.

Mark, in a statement, said: "The government has made a potentially catastrophic mistake by leaving community leisure centres, indoor gyms and swimming pools off the list of businesses that can re-open.

"This needs urgent review and we need to open as early as possible.

"This will be bad for business, bad for jobs and bad for the health of the nation."

Siobonne, who runs the private pool at Brow Nelson, Dalston, said: "We are very disappointed, like any other business we are part of the effort to get through the pandemic but we are now at the stage, where pubs, restaurants and retail would be allowed to open. I don't understand, they have probably more surfaces."

Industry body, Swim England has asked for clarification.

Chief executive, Jane Nickerson said: “We were as surprised as anyone to hear that swimming pools would not be allowed to reopen. I have asked for the scientific evidence why this is the case."

To sign a petition calling for pools to open go to Dalston Leisure Pool's Facebook page.