A couple have transformed their home into a public swimming pool after becoming fed-up with the lack of local facilities when they moved to the countryside. <br /><br />Bhavika Kane, 43, and her husband Mark, 47, struggled with the inaccessibility of rural living after they bought a house in Woodhall Spa, Lincs., in November 2021. <br /><br />The pair faced a 50 minute round-trip to take their kids swimming at a busy baths so decided to spend thousands of pounds building their own in the back garden. <br /><br />Bhavika was approached by a local swimming school after the 13m (42ft) by 4m (13ft) pool was completed and she has now opened it up to members of the public. <br /><br />Since opening in December, the mum-of-four says people have been flocking from miles around to swim in their pool, which costs £6 an hour to use. <br /><br />Bhavika and her builder husband decided to construct their own pool after being left frustrated with the lack of nearby services when they moved from Kelham, Notts.<br /><br />Hundreds of swimming pools across the country are also facing closure due to rising energy costs, it was warned last year. <br /><br />Former nurse Bhavika said: "I was born and bred in Nottingham where everything is on your doorstep.<br /><br />"So when we moved to Lincolnshire, I had a bit of a shock with rural living and struggled because not everything was accessible<br /><br />"We'd always wanted a swimming pool and when we moved we had the space here to build one, so we did. <br /><br />"Having a swimming pool on your doorstep increases your motivation to do things. <br /><br />“At first I was approached by a swimming club for swimming lessons and then word of mouth spread and people started messaging me on Facebook. <br /><br />"They were facing the same problem regarding pool hire and availability and since then more and more people are coming.<br /><br />“We get a lot of walkers. We had one couple who walked a few miles from a local village, had a swim and then walked back. <br /><br />“We don’t exclude anybody. We have everyone here, from babies to 80-year-olds."<br /><br />Bhavika and Mark have spared no expense with the pool, which houses a special filtration unit that pumps in fresh air to reduce the smell of chlorine. <br /><br />It has a 1.2 metre depth all the way through, is tested every month and is heated to 31-32 degrees Celsius.<br /><br />Bhavika says she isn’t fazed by having a public pool at her house and is enjoying helping her new local community get active.<br /><br />Her company Swim Blue now hosts swimming lessons as well as a wide variety of other activities from pool parties to private hire.
