Parents abandoning Backwell are willing to fund new Nailsea pool
‘Expensive’ Backwell swimming pool is sinking further into decline, claim Nailsea parents visiting the pool with their children.
Nailsea resident Jon Bell said: “I like to take my children swimming as often as possible but at nearly ten pound a go swimming is becoming one of the financial cut backs I am having to make. This is ridiculously expensive at a time when the government is trying to encourage us to get as much activity as possible.
“I also think that nearly a tenner for the grubby and freezing conditions at Backwell pool is a joke. It’s just not worth the money. I think it would actually work out cheaper to jump in my car, pay the petrol and swim in Bristol instead.”
In April 2009, the Government launched £140 million pound initiative, offering councils cash to open up their swimming pools free to under 16s and over 60s.
Those that did so would receive a share of £10 million to spend on modernising or improving pools prior to the launch.
Pools that offered free swims for both age groups would also receive a share of £25 million in 2009/10 and 2010/11 to further improve pool provisions.
North Somerset was one of around 140 councils that did not opt to offer free swims to both age groups, choosing only to offer the swims to the over 60s.
Pool prices for parents in North Somerset stand at £3.50 for over 16s, £2.20 for age 4 to 15 or family swims at £9.00.
In the neighbouring county of Bristol, both children and the over 60s swim for free keeping parents’ costs down.
Despite campaigners working hard to persuade the council to build a new swimming pool in Nailsea, hopes that this would happen were quashed at the monthly council meeting in June 2009.
North Somerset Council declared that they could not afford to fund a pool in Nailsea despite plummeting numbers of swimmers visiting Backwell.
After receiving emails from members of the Nailsea community about the state of Backwell pool, Chopsy Baby visited the facility three weeks in a row to see if the claims were justified.
We took a family with us each time, costing £9.00 each visit. This would mean our four hours every month going swimming would cost £36.00.
Dirty cubicle walls
During June, we found filthy toilets and changing areas that were not given the thorough cleaning needed.
We noted traces of human excrement wiped – we hope by a young child – onto a toilet wall which remained in place for some weeks.
Lockers were broken and not repaired.
The sinks of the ladies changing room toilet on one occasion were constantly running water from loose pipes.
Adult and child sat next to section of broken glass
Most shockingly, we found on one visit, a section of glass window separating the training pool from the main pool had been smashed and covered with cardboard. Written on it were the words ‘Danger broken glass’. This section of glass was next to a busy door with young children constantly running through. It also bordered a small seating area, again with children located next to the potential danger.
The temperature of the water was so cold that on one visit we noted children forcing parents to get out after a short amount of time because they were freezing.
On Saturday 18th of July, Nailsea Town Councillor Clare Hunt and local resident Denise Cook, took to the streets of Nailsea shopping centre to find out what opinions members of the community held about local swimming facilities.
Speaking to more than 50 people at the Farmers’ Market, they found that many expressed outrage at the decision not to fund a swimming pool in the town despite residents requests and after more than a decade’s campaigning.
The results of the survey showed that most people would be happy to pay an extra few pounds council tax each month to fund a swimming pool in their town.
Others came up with different ways to raise funds, including sponsorship, fun events, car boot sales and even trust funds.
Councillor Claire Hunt said: “Swimming is not only an important life skill, but is an excellent form of exercise for all age groups. Having swimming facilities nearby also offers members of families the chance to have fun together. Will the efforts of a community succeed in getting a pool which the Local Authority is unwilling to provide? Only time will tell.”