London Pools Campaign: news from the campaign for London's pools

Hendy Pool, things start to really move

The committee at Hendy Pool tell us that "The pool committee members are now meeting the consultants Hyder Consulting UK Ltd to view the first stage feedback from various community groups and consultees, the purpose of this meeting is to agree on prefered options upon which the pool committee members would like the consultants to make further investigations and consultations."

The Carmerthenshire Council website says:

"A survey is to be carried out on the future viability of returning Hendy Pool to use.
Financial assistance of £9,500 towards the study to investigate the development potential of the lido facility is being given by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The lido is beyond economic repair and would need to be replaced with a new structure costing £250,000, engineers have said.
Reports in recent years have suggested there is damage to the basin of the pool - which led to its closure - and patch up repairs of £100,000 would not offer a guarantee of lasting.
The council, in talks with the pool committee, has been trying to find a way forward. It has been agreed while the council cannot commit to being the lead organisation in delivering the pool back into use it will support the determined pool committee seeking funding for the project.
Council Executive Board member for leisure services, Clive Scourfield, said: "We are delighted to investigate the development potential of the pool in order to establish its sustainability as a community asset.
"The pool has been offered to the group at a peppercorn lease agreement with an additional offer to take on the surrounding park area.""

(Via Carmartenshire Press Releases Dipping a toe in the water to return Hendy lido facility: .)

Enjoy The BBC video report on what they describe as Wales's only Lido ...more ---> ...

Days Like Those - to schmeiss or not to schmeiss

Spa culture is a mystery to us ... but we feel that a change is in the steam.

"Matthew has been fighting a battle on behalf of a man with a nipple ring who has been banned from massaging his friends in the steam rooms. Massaging soap on to the schmeissee's body by hand is apparently a precursor to the actual schmeiss and all massaging and soaping of any kind has now been outlawed. Matthew, hearing of the outrage, took it upon himself to ask the manager how this could be when schmeissing is the very soul of the Turkish bath, and the manager told him that schmeissing per se was not banned, just massaging, on account of a council licence. Matthew then expressed his confusion about the distinction between massaging and schmeissing in the strongest terms and his meeting with the manager ended on a note of some tension."

(Via Rebecca Tyrrel: Days Like Those - Independent Online Edition > Rebecca Tyrrel: .)

...more ---> ...

Olympic medallist makes a splash as swimming project launched - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk

"OLYMPIC swimmer Duncan Goodhew has helped to launch a Merseyside scheme to encourage older people to swim.
The gold medallist kick-started the Wirral-wide Everyday Swim project at Leasowe Recreation Centre on Saturday.
Visitors were given the opportunity to meet him and get some expert tips.

New classes will be starting at leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough in January. These will include daytime Adult Learn To Swim classes and Aquajogging sessions.
Free sessions of aqua-aerobics are being offered to the over 50s. Grandparent and grandchild swimming sessions are also on offer. The project is being run by co-ordinator Fiona Pantrich."

(Via Olympic medallist makes a splash as swimming project launched - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk: .)

...more ---> ...

Council Gives Gift Of Extra Swim Lessons (from Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

"Taking place from today, it is the latest extension to lessons the Council has funded after it recognised it was the lack of opportunity rather than ability preventing some children from learning how to swim.
Bradford Council has seen the number of young swimmers who achieve the Key Stage 2 standard rise over the last four years from 3,570 in 2003 to 4,523 in 2007 - an increase of almost 27 per cent.
Bradford Council's executive member for environment and culture, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: 'The ability to swim is such an important life skill and it is really important we give youngsters opportunities to learn, which is why we have added the Christmas sweep-up to our school swimming programme.
'Providing additional swimming lessons for school children is a priority within our b active campaign and during our last sweep-up in July, over 200 pupils achieved the Key Stage 2 standard."

(Via Council Gives Gift Of Extra Swim Lessons (from Bradford Telegraph and Argus): .)

...more ---> ...