Walthamstow College pool closing? – another pool ‘at risk’, and in an Olympic Games host borough too

We are receiving reports that the pool at Waltham Forest College may be closing on 1 August. Located in the centre of The Olympic Games Host Borough of Waltham Forest and adjacent to the borough’s Town Hall and municipal buildings the pool is a 33m six-lane pool that provides an excellent training facility for many local clubs. It also regularly provides courses for lifeguards and swimming teachers and provides school swimming lessons. It will be impossible for any of its users to find a convenient replacement for the facilities in the near future ??? or even an inconvenient replacement in the medium term.

The pool is currently used by four ASA/BTA affiliated clubs

  •  Borough of Waltham Forest SC who are the only Swim21 Performance accredited club in east London. They will lose this status if they lose the 10 hours pool-time that they currently enjoy at the this venue (there is no way that this deficit can be made up from other local pools) their international swimmers will have to move to clubs and facilities out of the area.
  • Swim4Tri a successful Triathlon club
  • Leyton SC a community-based competitive club
  • Walthamstow Tritons SC a relatively new club aimed at competitive swimmers with a particular interest in open water swimming.
  • Two swim schools run sessions at the College and the College themselves run a number of lesson schemes including adult lessons and women-only sessions, this in addition to the public swim facilities that provide a major service to the local community.

    As with any pool upkeep of the pool has revenue implications, especially in view of its age and the difficulties in maintaining its plant-room equipment. Some users tell us that they feel that the pool has been managed and maintained in such a way over the last few years that it could be made into a viable concern if new will and ambition to see it thrive and succeed was there. Local clubs and interested groups tell us they are already considering ways in which they can save this facility for the community through direct action.

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