This Saturday, the nation's top swimmers will begin competing at the Athens Olympics......they have an excellent chance of success, inspite of the state of UK pools; Bill Sweetenham the national swimming coach says "In swimming, we have the worst facilities in the top 20 countries in the world. That's not investment in sport - that's neglect and negligence." None of the 36 British Olympic swimmers trains at a London club.

Each year in London at least 1 pool closes - this year Charlton Lido has closed, Northolt Swimarama will close in the autumn and Ladywell Pool has announced its closure.

To highlight pool closures a group of cyclists and swimmers plan to cycle to every tube stop in London and swim across each lido under water (Full details in next news item below).

Charlton Lido while still in use...

OR ...for lazier lido lovers... join LONDON POOLS CAMPAIGN to greet the swimmers/cyclists at CHARLTON LIDO at 11am on Saturday 21st August for photoshoot to highlight the closure of yet another London Pool - followed by food and drink at the Charlton launch of the London Pools photo exhibition

JOIN US @ 11am on SATURDAY 21st AUGUST AT CHARLTON LIDO, HORNFAIR PARK, CHARLTON PARK LANE, SE7

• LONDON POOLS CAMPAIGNERS FROM POOLS ACROSS LONDON
• THE CHARLTON LIDO SWIMMING CLUB
• THE CHARLTON LIDO TRIATHLETES
• THE CHARLTON LIDO CANOE POLO CLUB
• HE CHARLTON LIDO CROSS CHANNEL SWIMMING CLUB
• LOCAL PEOPLE FROM CHARLTON AREA WHO USED TO SWIM IN THE LIDO

When we will greet Dr Gavin White and friends who are on a 5 day endurance trial to cycle to every tube station in London and swim underwater at every lido (except Charlton)...The funds raised by sponsorship of the swimmer/cyclists will go the Medical Care of the Victims of Torture (donation address below) .

WHY IS CHARLTON LIDO CLOSED?

Greenwich Council has closed Charlton Lido this year because of health and safety fears. The lido needs £120k to open in short term for public swimming - and £500k to secure its long term future. The funding is needed for an automatic dosing system, improved aeration system and improved security.

This illustrates the problems faced by local authorities across London who cannot afford to keep public swimming pools open.

Exhibition at Age Exchange,

The Reminiscence Centre,11, Black Heath Village, SE3 9LA

Opening 12 noon Sat 21st August (following photoshoot at lido) Showing photos by Balthazar Serreau of the closed and threatened pools in London - from the marble splendour of Marshall St to the graffitied dereliction of Uxbridge Lido...dotted across the capital are more than 20 closed swimming pools and lidos - most decaying and vandalised, some guarded by security.

While London spends millions bidding for the 2012 Olympics we are losing our local swimming pools...

Pictures London Fields Lido : Poplar Baths Eltham Lido : Haggerston Pool

Last year Clissold Leisure Centre closed. It cost £32 million (instead of the initially planned £7.5 million) – and had been open just 20 months. Court cases abound, but there is no sign of the pool re-opening – and there has been press speculation about it being knocked down. This year Northolt Swimarama and Charlton Lido are closing and Ladywell Baths is under threat. Ealing Council want to demolish Northolt Swimarama and sell the land to a developer for £3.5 million. Plans to build a replacement pool in a nearby school have fallen through. Charlton Lido has struggled on for years, but this year it has closed – future is very uncertain. Ladywell is to be demolished to make way for a new school - though it has just had a £1.8 million revamp.

Obesity

The Chief Medical Officer reported in April that lack of exercise is costing the country £10 billion each year, and that these health problems are concentrated in the most deprived areas. These are the communities that most need local public affordable swimming pools - as people here are least likely to have cars, private gym membership, good facilities/opportunities for sport at work or school. The 2001 DCMS report "Testing the water" found that repairing every swimming pool in the country would cost £2 billion (1 off payment).

| press and publicity | 12 August 2004; 11:18:14 AM |# | | Discuss |

Gavin White and Friends invite all swimmers and cyclists to join them on a whole London swim and cycle from August 19th - 23rd.  The plan is to:

• Cycle to Every Tube and DLR (including disused) stations in London (about 311) (and a photo at each one for proof)
• Swim in all still-existing Unheated Lidos in London
  • Serpentine
  • Tooting Bec lido
  • Brockwell Park Lido
  • Gospel Oak Lido
  • Hampstead Ponds
  • Charlton Lido (photo shoot only as no water)
• Sleep outdoors every night.

This will be a continuous event, starting in Chesham, Bucks, on Thursday 19th, sunrise ...and ending Monday (23rd) Charing Cross.  We reckon about 500 miles total over the five days.  The pools we will swim a length and a width underwater, just for the sake of it (except Serpentine!).

All this being done

• to raise awareness of Lido closure and all that means for communities,
• to raise awareness of cycling in London
• to raise money for The Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture

London Pools Campaigners and Charlton Lido campaigners will be meeting the swimmers at Charlton Lido for a photoshoot to support the campaign to re-open Charlton Lido (closed this summer) on Saturday 21st August at 11am - ...call for more details...

To join the event call Gavin on 07946 295 093 - or to sponsor the swimmers and cyclists (funds to Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture) go to  www.justgiving.com/gavunderwater 

| in the news | 12 August 2004; 6:39:49 AM |# | | Discuss |