Former Olympic silver medalist Sarah Hardcastle has spoken of her fears that Borough of Southend Swimming and Training Club may be forced to close.

The Borough Club was facing showdown talks with Glendale Leisure today over a proposed rent hike at the Warrior Square pool.

Glendale is demanding three times their previous rate for hiring the pool at 5am, which works out at 85 per cent of the council-set fee to use it during public hours.

But the club, who arranged a 15 per cent fee with the council in 1996, say the increased rate will force them to go under .

Sarah, who achieved great international success at the club in the 1980s, said it was vital the club survived.

"If the club was to close it would be a massive blow for the area," she said. "Where would the best local swimmers go to get the best coaching?

"Without the Borough of Southend club, my career would not have existed as I wouldn't have got any water time to be able to practise for the Olympics.

"Borough of Southend is a training club which benefits the whole community - not just youngsters - and it would be terrible if it closed."

Hardcastle, now 32 and living in Wakering, said she thought the decision to charge 85 per cent of the normal fee for out of hours pool time was baffling.

"When I was swimming I used the pool between 5 and 8am and then went to school. Not a great many other people are mad enough to do that. Why should they be charged so much for using it at that time?"

She added that she hoped one day that her children - Iwan, 3, Huw, 2, and Eve, 8 months - would all go on to the Borough academy.

"Even if they don't make champions, I know they would be getting the best training," she said.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, who decided on the pool charges with Glendale, said today they were doing all they could to solve the problem.

A spokeswoman said: "The Council has a policy for equality for all swimming clubs and standard hiring charges do apply. We are having continuing discussions with the Club."

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