Walsall Council becomes the latest local authority to claim that it has too many swimming pools and as a result Willenhall Leisure Centre is facing the axe:
(CLICK HERE FOR MORE -> poolingresources at Yahoo! Groups Walsall Council claims “over provision” of pools.: .)
“Magdalena Kwiatkowska is absolutely certain her thirteen-year-old daughter is pregnant because of wayward sperm wafting about in the currents of an Egyptian hotel’s swimming pool. She is so certain, in fact, that her daughter’s delicate condition is due to “something in the water” that she is suing the hotel where she and her family, including the teenager, recently spent several weeks on vacation.”
(CLICK HERE FOR MORE -> Mom claims teen impregnated by stray sperm in swimming pool: .)
Health and safety close outdoor pool because of rain ‘risk”
When you read this sort of thing you think “what the hell?” but imagine watching 70, 80 people in a piece of water 50×16 metres for minimum wage when the minimum of floodlighting or in-pool-lighting has been installed and see how you might feel – and we haven’t even mentioned lightning!
Heavy rain can turn pool water to a foggy, grey blur in seconds and it would be impossible to see someone slip under the water. It is easy to knock these rules but “walk the deck” and watch the tank and see if you want that risk on your hands.
Splendid though it is the real sadness at London Fields is the loss of a deep-end and boards
“For those hardy souls who enjoy an outdoor dip, a little extra water seems unlikely to be a major deterrent.
But the threat of a spot of rain – when combined with the implacable nature of ‘elf and safety regulations – look like succeeding where the cold and the wind have failed.
Swimmers at one outdoor pool have been warned they may be banned from taking a dip whenever the heavens open.
The bizarre measure came to light at the popular London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London, during a brief burst of rain. “
(Via Sorry, it’s too wet for swimming: Health and safety close outdoor pool because of rain ‘risk’ | Mail Online: .)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa…ety/article.do
I would like to think it’s April 1st but no. Please watch your blood pressure when replying.”
(Via SwimClub.co.uk Forums London Fields Lido elf & safety farce: .)
“
‘Too wet to swim!’ is the accusation that the Standard has slapped on London Fields lido. They’re referring to health & safety measures that, the newspaper claims, direct staff to close the pool in the event of precipitation. A ridiculous notion, one that the ‘London cheerleader‘ makes light of, so it’s lucky that there’s very little truth to it. In actual fact, the story stems from just a single incident, when visitors were told that if already heavy rainfall turned torrential, thus impeding the lifeguard from seeing properly, the pool would be shut. It never came to pass, as the rain shortly stopped. The message here? Bashing our often draconian safety laws may be a good sport, but in our increasingly litigious society, the same bashers would be the first to call the no-win no-fee lawyers if some tragedy occurred because the lifeguard couldn’t see three feet in front of him. (Photo / DanMud)”
(Via Londonist London Fields Lido Scared Of A Little Rain?: .)
The foundation stone for Haggerston Pool was laid
on March 18th 1903. To commemorate the centenary, and to highlight the
pools continued closure, pool users and local residents are holding a candle
lit vigil on Tuesday March 18th from 7:30pm till 8:30pm in front of the
pool building (by the foundation stone).
Haggerston Pool is still closed after 3 years,
yet there are not enough swimming facilities in the borough. Recent research
by the Learning Trust shows that 10 local primary schools would use Haggerston
if it was re-opened. And that last year in 4 schools more than 70% children
left unable to swim, despite swimming being on the national curriculum.
Following the demo outside Tower Hamlets
Town Hall, and a high-profile campaign involving both swimmers and boxers,
the Council announced that York Hall would not now be closing and that
they would set up a consultative process with local residents and York
Hall users.
Campaigners from pools around London joined the York Hall demonstrators to lobby Tower Hamlets Council on March 5th. In a day that had the Campaign seen and heard on radio and television people also came to York Hall to show how much the centre means to the community. [Macro error: Can't evaluate the expression because the name "ftpSite" hasn't been defined.]
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How easy is it to get a swim in the Capital? The answer is, increasingly difficult! Cash-strapped councils are withdrawing support to Londonís aging pool stock, forcing closure or the shortening of opening hours. Everywhere you look you will find another community that has lost its local pool – depriving residents and workers of a really valuable facility.
This situation has been ignored for too long. Children are not learning how to swim competently and residents and workers in London are experiencing a substantial reduction in the quality of life.
All over London there are individual campaigns for local facilities. The London Pools Campaign has been formed to bring these campaigns together and to help these campaigns. It hopes to ensure that all Londoners will have access to inexpensive local pools and to preserve and expand existing pool stock.
The BBC are doing a regional news feature on the launch of the LondonPools Campaign. This will be on WEDNESDAY MARCH 5TH at 6:30pm (so please be early) outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall which is at Mulberry Place, Clove Road E14. 272 bus goes all the way there or East India DLR station – or get in contact for a lift.
The piece will also involves an INTERVIEW on BBC 1 “the London Programme”, going out on Wednesday evening at 6.30pm. Penny Wrout from BBC 1 News interviewed two members of the London Pools Campaign this morning 04/03/03 in Hackney. Mike Martin was interviewed inside the London Fields Lido. You may see the inside of this Olympic-sized pool. Liz Hudson was interviewed outside the Haggerston Swimming Pool.
The London Pools Campaign has been set up by 8 pool campaigns across London (Haggerston, York Hall, London Fields Lido, Poplar Baths, Brockwell Lido, Hampton Pool Richmond, Marshall Street Baths Soho and Swiss Cottage Pool). We have met with Sport England, the GLA and the Amateur Swimming Association to look at how pools can be funded in a better way – since the problems are similar across London in both rich and poor boroughs.
The launch of the London campaign is next Wednesday 5th March at the York Hall campaign’s demo outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall. We have got some good press coverage – see below. If you would like to come and demonstrate for Haggerston Pool, please see details below. We will be going with banners from the Haggerston campaign – you can just turn upor if you need a lift get in contact and we’ll will try to arrange it (7690 6662).
There will also be a slot on the Robert Elms Show on Radio London (94.9 FM) about all the pools campaigns across London and the difficulties we are facing. Its at 1.15pm on Wednesday 5th March – the day of the launch of the London Pools Campaign – there will be the opportunity to phone in and put points of view.
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