London Pools Campaign: Wales

BBC NEWS: Swansea Leisure centre 'rip-off' petition

webteam — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:14:57 GMT

"More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for entry charges at Swansea's new leisure centre to be cut.
Opposition councillors are behind the protest branding £7 to use the water park "a rip off", although there are discounts for residents and families.
Council leaders insist the fees are not over-priced and say the facilities will be the best in the UK when the £32m revamped centre opens in March."

(Via BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Leisure centre 'rip-off' petition: .)

New £32million LC in Swansea

webteam — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:56:00 GMT

"The new water park leisure centre in Swansea isn't due to open until March but already a row has broken out over the planned admission charge of £7.

Families will pay £18 for "a day out", but at busy times will be limited to a two hour visit.

The chief executive says they will have "at least 2 hours" to go on all the fun rides (but if there are queues for different things the time will go pretty quickly.)

BBC News Link

(Via Swim Club Forum Swansea Leisure Centre ... feeling flush?: .)

Drowning our Olympic hopes - icWales

webteam — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 08:09:04 GMT

"OLYMPIC dreams could be shattered by the closure of Llangeinor Pool, according to the borough’s top swimming coach.

Phil Melhuish, head coach of Bridgend Swim Squad, said competitive swimming in the borough is in crisis because there are not enough pools and the squad can't get enough pool time. And that means the Olympic aspirations of top swimmers like Sara Lougher and Hayley Roberts could be in jeopardy, particularly if Llangeinor Pool does not reopen.

It was closed without warning at the end of 2007 for work on its heating system, but an inspection revealed a small quantity of asbestos beneath the insulation cladding in the boiler room.

The total cost of the work, including removal of the asbestos, is more than £25,000."

(Via Swimming: Drowning our Olympic hopes - icWales: .)

Dai aims to prove he can beat phobia - icWales

webteam — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 23:59:01 GMT

"Dai Jones takes the plunge ... and hundreds of Welsh farmers could follow, says Mansel Jones

ADULT swimming classes across rural Wales could be inundated in the new year following the Christmas holiday screening of an S4C series in which genial farmer and TV presenter Dai Jones attempts to conquer one of his greatest fears %u2013 water.

When Dai learned to ski in the hilarious S4C series Dai ar y Piste in 1994, skiing holidays became immensely popular among the Welsh farming and rural community. Now he's trying to learn to swim we can expect a similar reaction.

'There's a feeling among the viewers that 'if Dai can do it, so can I', explains the 64-year-old presenter, best known for his highly popular countryside series on S4C, Cefn Gwlad, which is about to go into its 26th year."

(Via Dai aims to prove he can beat phobia - icWales: .)

AMs hear "save our pool" plea - icWales

webteam — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:57:23 GMT

"CAMPAIGNERS trying to save their swimming pool from closure have taken their fight to the National Assembly.
A petition of more than 1,600 names, calling for Edwardsville pool in Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil, to remain open, was handed in yesterday by schoolchildren, parents and grandparents.
The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German AM accepted it on behalf of the Assembly Petitions Committee.
Merthyr council intends to close both Edwardsville and Gwaunfarren pools when a new state-of-the-art facility, including three pools, opens at Rhydycar next summer."

(Via IcWales AMs hear "save our pool" plea - icWales: .)

Blaenavon fight abandoned amid new protests

webteam — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:56:29 GMT

"Protesters in Blaenavon, Torfaen have abandoned their fight to save their swimming pool after fierce campaigning.
Torfaen Council is planning to demolish the pool and leisure centre replacing it with a school and health centre.
Meanwhile, protesters from Merthyr Tydfil are handing a petition to the assembly government to try to save Edwardsville pool in Treharris.
And in Gwynedd there has been a plea to delay the planned closure of Harlech swimming pool for at least a year.
In Blaenavon, despite hundreds of people taking part in demonstrations to save the pool after the roof was damaged in storms, campaigners have decided to abandon their attempt to stop it being demolished following legal advice.
'The problem is that going to court is a big risk with a lot of money at stake,' said John Beavan, former manager of the leisure centre and pool and chairman of the action group set up to save it."

(Via BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Fight abandoned amid new protests: .)

Threatened Harlech pool may win reprieve

webteam — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:56:10 GMT

"Harlech swimming pool could remain open for another five months so that development opportunities can be explored, councillors have decided.

Following a review of the facility, Gwynedd council announced plans to close the pool in April 2008.
But a scrutiny committee agreed to recommend an extension until September. The council board will make a decision on this recommendation in the new year."

(Via BBC NEWS | Wales | North West Wales | Threatened pool may win reprieve: .)

Hendy Pool, things start to really move

webteam — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:07:02 GMT

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