Leisure centre bosses have reassured people there are no plans to close Truro swimming pool amid reports of concerns.

Cornwall councillor Jayne Kirkham, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth, said parents had contacted her worried changes to opening times at the pool could mean it is under threat, following the closure of Ships and Castles in Falmouth and the imminent closure of Launceston Leisure Centre. But James Curry, head of GLL, the social enterprise which runs leisure centres on behalf of Cornwall Council, is adamant this is not the case.

Cllr Kirkham said she had met with Mr Curry to discuss the issue.

“Parents have raised with me the changes to opening times at the Truro pool, which Cornwall Council says are due to cost pressures, the cost of living crisis and the energy crisis facing the UK,” she said.

“The government has completely failed to support leisure services which are battling huge increases in running costs.

Teaching our children to swim is essential here as we are surrounded by sea and cases of death by drowning are growing, and all activities at leisure centres are so important for mental wellbeing and preventive health care. These are services we need to protect.”

Truro MP Cherilyn Mackrory said she is in regular contact with GLL and the organisation has no plans to close the city pool.

She added: “The government knows many leisure centres and swimming pools are contending with major increases in running costs, which is why we have introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.

“It will mean they pay wholesale energy costs, well below half of expected prices this winter.”

And Mr Curry repeated the assurance the pool is not under threat.

He told the Voice: “On the contrary, more than 1,100 children are currently learning to swim there each week – the highest number ever enrolled.

“GLL is working very hard to mitigate ongoing utility cost pressures by reducing gas and electricity consumption where possible, growing income and modifying pool programmes – especially over the winter period when costs are considerably higher.

“Swimming lessons and school swimming are not affected by the changes and customer disruption is being kept to a minimum.

“These are challenging times for everyone but we are doing all we can as a not-for-profit social enterprise to ensure our pools and leisure centre facilities remain open and viable.”