This Is Hertfordshire:

Swimmers in Streatham will be without use of a local pool for at least 16 months when refurbishment of the Streatham Leisure Centre swimming pool starts next year.

While the current ice rink will stay open until a new one is built, resulting in no loss of facilities to the public, the only alternative swimming pools available once work starts are in Clapham or Brixton.

This has made regular users of the pool angry with the council and Tesco, who are behind the development of the new leisure complex.

Sue Jones is secretary of Streatham Swimming Club, which has 80 members ranging from five to 18-years-old. She said: "We are disappointed that the swimming pool is not getting the same deal as the ice rink.

"Sixteen months is a long time for a swimming club to survive without regular use of a local pool. The only available pools which are fairly near to Streatham are in Brixton or Clapham.

"Although we are determined for the club to continue, any swimming club that has to move from its local pool always loses membership. We need somewhere else so they can train." ...more ---> ...

| London Borough of Lambeth | 21 August 2006; 8:06:23 PM |# | | |