Tynwald will be asked this week to support an increase in local rates to keep a cash-strapped swimming pool afloat.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall says the move is the only option given the major financial difficulties facing the Southern Swimming Pool in Castletown.

He will move an order to increase the maximum that can be levied from local rates for the pool from the current 2.5p in the pound to 6p in the pound for the 2022-2023 financial year.

This will increase each subsequent year by a further 0.1p in the pound up to a maximum capped rate of 8p in the pound.

The three regional swimming pools in the north, south and west of the island are each run jointly by commissioners in their respective areas, with a contribution from local rates capped and an annual subvention paid by government to meet shortfalls in operating costs.

Currently the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) provide a subvention to the Castletown pool board to the tune of £469,000.

But the board say they are facing major financial difficulties due to pool closures and restrictions as a result of the Covid pandemic and the need for a large amount of maintenance to building to ensure it is fit for purpose.

More recently there have been large increases in fuel bills, and the board has also had to deal with a personnel matter which resulted in the payment of a significant amount of back pay.

The DESC said it is unable to increase the level of additional funding needed from internal budgets.

As a result the pool board approached the Department of Infrastructure which said increasing the local rates was the only option.

The proposed new order allows for an increase of the maximum rate to 6p in the pound from the existing 2.5p in the pound. Further small annual increments of 0.1p in the pound will be added for each subsequent year from 2023.

This additional increment is capped so that the future maximum rate will stop at 8p in the pound.

Castletown Commissioners have urged all the southern local authorities to join forces to draw up a plan to secure a replacement to the public swimming pool which they say is nearing the end of its life.

They want this to coincide with the building of a new Castle Rushen High School but no provision for this has been made in central government’s budgets.

The Southern pool is not the only one facing financial difficulties with the facilities in Ramsey and Peel both struggling with spiralling costs.

Earlier this year a bid by the Northern Local Authorities Swimming Pool Board for an extra £46,000 was rejected by government.

The DESC said the sum should fall on ratepayers instead.

Education Minister Julie Edge said she expected pool boards to manage their budgets.

She said a national strategy was needed.

Southern Swimming Club, which was formed when the swimming pool was built, celebrated its 40th birthday in 2019.