Future of the Börde Lamstedt: Swimming pool and school in crisis!

Future of the Börde Lamstedt: Swimming pool and school in crisis!

Important decisions are coming up in the Börde Lamstedt that affect the future of the region. Again indicator reports, the situation at the “Lambada” swimming pool is becoming increasingly tense. Increasing repairs are imminent and permanent pool closures are looming, which could pose serious challenges to the community. The mayor of the joint municipality, Frank Springer, has already pointed out the urgency and brought the financial burden on the citizens into focus. A cost estimate for the construction of a new swimming pool with a maximum 15 meter pool is around 6 million euros, an amount that the Lamstedt Börde can hardly afford without government funding.

It's no secret that many swimming pools in Germany are in a dilapidated condition. The number of swimming pools has decreased from around 7,800 25 years ago to around 6,000 currently, and more than half of these facilities are in need of renovation, according to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau. What is worrying is that the DLRG warns that without the necessary investments, around 800 swimming pools could close in the next three years. There is therefore no doubt that there is an urgent need for action, especially when you consider that, according to a 2022 survey, almost 60% of primary school children cannot swim safely - an alarming signal.

Investing in swimming infrastructure

Federal Construction Minister Klara Geywitz has pushed forward the initiative to renovate municipal facilities and made 400 million euros available for energy-efficient renovation in 2023. These funds come from the Federal program “Renovation of municipal facilities” and are intended to help upgrade the dilapidated structures. Sports halls and swimming pools, among others, can benefit from the funds available, with the aim of strengthening social cohesion and social integration. This is particularly important at a time when the need for renovation is significant in many communities.

In addition to the federal funds, politicians have formulated a clear concern: In order to improve children's swimming ability, according to the coalition agreement, “at least one billion euros” are needed to improve the sports infrastructure. But where the funds will ultimately be used remains unclear for the time being. Critical voices from the opposition are even calling for significantly more investment and see the current plans as inadequate.

School challenges and solutions

From 2026, full-day care for primary school children will be introduced in the Börde Lamstedt, but this also brings with it challenges. The primary school at the central school location on Schützenstrasse currently does not have the required capacity. Reorganization will also be necessary here, as the two branch offices must be retained until sufficient capacity is created. The planning costs for a new building are estimated at 1 million euros, with total costs of over 20 million euros for the realization of the three-tier structure in the primary school.

The introduction of free care until 4 p.m. and the provision of lunch, possibly via the kindergarten delivery service, are already being planned. Meanwhile, around 60 to 80 children have already registered a need for care. Close cooperation with the Cuxhaven district is sought to ensure educational support beyond 4 p.m. and during the holidays. Nevertheless, the question arises as to whether the demand for care in the nearby after-school care center is sufficient to be able to maintain these offers.

In order to address the challenges in the area of ​​wastewater disposal, a feasibility study on the sewage treatment plant is in progress, which will examine various renovation and connection options. At the same time, a youth parliament will be founded to strengthen the voice of young people in the Börde - a step whose first activities we can look forward to.

It remains to be seen how the future of Börde Lamstedt will be shaped. One thing is certain: there is a lot of work on the table, and the community's efforts will be critical to how residents overcome these challenges.