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London Fields User Group Chair: Mike Martin mobile phone: 0775 2833 487 fax: 020 7241 3373

e-mail: <londonfieldchair@onetel.com>

LONDON FIELDS LIDO PROPOSALS Nov. 2004

Further to the new council proposal to rebuild the London Fields Lido and bring this  valuable facility, with a 50 m pool, back into use - we are delighted. We, as a user group, have been involved in calling for its reopening since its original closure in 1988  (16 years ago) and have campaigned for this ever since - saving it from destruction by bulldozer in 1990.

For everyone able to download pictures we enclose as an attachment a plan of our proposals for the LIDO using the original buildings and layout. We find the proposals for returning to the1931 plans except for heating the water, anachronistic and not in keeping with the 21st century requirements.

The council talks of the "original Lido feel". This may not comply with EC swimming legislation and further more, with the heating, is likely to be less economic than the original pool. We do approve of heating the pool but without a pool blanket this would be like radiating heat and cash into the air.

It is imperative that we have an economically efficient facility and are concerned that, with a change in economic climate and further cutbacks (as in the 1980's and 90's), it could be closed again. Our proposals will assist in bring in greater use for the facility and create a unity with the    rest of London Fields and its other facilities.

We propose that:

a) A gym with exercise studio be incorporated in the complex, sharing indoor changing facilities with showers and clothes lockers for the pool. The old, crude outdoor changing facilities will not be acceptable these days (particularly for some ethnic women¹s groups), or during the colder periods. The gym will bring considerable year round income, increasing the viability of the whole complex  and making it a unified keep fit and sports training centre. This could bring in considerable capital funding from Sport England.

b) 2 changing facility with showers and clothes lockers to be incorporated for opposing teams for parkside football, cricket, etc. This can also be used on weekdays for school swimming changing facilities. The existing park changing facilities are of very poor quality, lack security and have been rarely used since  they were built.

c) That the Lido reception covers bookings and payment for all pitches and other facilities on the park, making for simplicity and efficiency with a computerised booking system. Doing away with the cumbersome character of the existing system.

d) That a café be opened at the existing front entrance to the Lido, to cater for both the Lido side and the park side. This can be let out to tender to an efficient caterer, bringing in considerable income and be of great benefit to the park.

e) That the grass strip under shady trees to the west of the Lido be incorporated and used for sun bathing and picnicking, with picnic tables for use by the café customers and self-catering Lido users.

f) That the WC¹s within the café parkside area are available to all park users. We consider that with WC¹s within a confined, widely used public area, they will be far safer and more secure.  

The existing toilet facilities in the park are no longer functioning. Because they were not under surveillance they suffered from constant vandalism. They were being destroyed as soon as they were repaired or units replaced. There were also problems with "cottageing".

g) We also look for a retractable covered area over the pool as widely used in Europe and many other places. This would enable the pool to be used 12 months a year, save heat loss, making for a much more economically viable facility. This would also be vitally important for school use. Without this the schools would only have a limited use and be unable to fulfil the national curriculum, which requires that children are taught swimming.

h) We consider that advanced water treatment and heating would be of great value to its long term economy. Chlorine treatment is widely disliked by swimmers with its skin irritation, asthma irritation, nauseous smell and other effects. Modern water sterilisation makes this unnecessary. Using a heat pump can reduce heating energy. While heat recovery by recycling air and waste water and considerable insulation within the facility would increase the economy. We would like to the buildings as an example of ecological and environmental excellence.

i) We are very concerned about the security of the facility. The perimeter would requires a climb proof fence for this. The fence used at the front of the paddling pool and at the Stratford rail terminal is excellent. This self coloured fence has a long service life (much superior to the chain fence on the new tennis courts) and is made by Bekaert Fencing Systems of Sheffield.

j) All modern facilities require perimeter lighting and surveillance cameras. And as with all lighting in the facility this should be of the high efficiency, low wattage type. This would make further saving in energy use.

k) Lastly, and possibly most important, is the management of  swimming facilities.  We have no confidence in Leisure Connection, the existing Hackney management of leisure facilities. They use poorly trained service personnel. Their premises lack basic cleanliness, while some suffer from vermin infestation. They have a poor record for water cleanliness and many people will no longer use facilities like Kings Hall because of this.

In their effort to maximise profit they obviously economise by using low  waged staff, do the minimum of training and cut corners wherever  possible. This has been found to be their general attitude throughout their leisure empire.

There is a need to make any management responsible to the public who use these facilities and therefore community groups should be involved with continuous assessment. Inspection should also be made of other outlets that prospective management already run before choosing them.

Since receiving invitations to the Stakeholder Consultation Event we have continued discussion with others, including the London Pools Campaign, representatives from other Hackney pools, swimming representatives, the disabled, other community groups and various experts, etc. We propose a consultative committee consisting of all the interested parties. By using community consultation and going for the full fitness and training centre design, to complete these proposals; we consider that there would be funding available from various sources. We hope that this can be accepted at the meeting.