Claims have been made that the water temperature at Spalding swimming pool is too cool.
District councillor George Aley – chairman of Spalding Town Forum – has received complaints in recent weeks about the main pool at Castle Sports Complex.
He wants to establish if there is any truth in that and what can be done to improve the situation for the comfort of bathers.
In a statement to The Voice, 1Life – which manages the operation of the complex on behalf of South Holland District Council – has admitted that the temperature was found to be marginally too cool on six occasions over the past 90 days.
Regular swimmer Rodney Marks (not one of the complainants to Coun Aley) sympathises with those who claim the water is chilly.
“In the main over the last three to four years it has been too cold,” he said. “I did start taking a thermometer with me for a while. My readings were about two degrees Celsius lower than the claimed temperature around 27.
“I do prefer it a bit cooler because I train but those that swim recreationally and young children would probably prefer it warmer.
“The air heating is on now that makes a difference to the feel of the place as well.”
Mr Marks also believes the cleanliness of the place “leaves a lot to be desired”.
Statement in response by 1Life, which manages the operation of The Castle Sports Complex on behalf of South Holland District Council:
The following procedures are implemented by 1Life at Castle Sports Complex to ensure the suitability of the water temperature for our customers.
Duty managers perform water tests every two hours during the opening hours of the centre. These tests are carried out for all three swimming pools: dive pool, main pool and teaching pool.
The results are checked against the parameters that are set for acceptable temperatures:
Main pool – 28-29 degrees
Dive pool – 28 degrees
Teaching pool – 29-30 degrees
These temperatures are designed to make the type of swimming that is undertaken in each of these pools comfortable for the participants.
Over the last 90 days the dive pool and teaching pool have always stayed within their set parameters.
In the main pool there have been six occasions when the pool temperature has fallen below the agreed parameters. This fall has been recorded for no longer than a four-hour time period and the recorded temperature has been no lower than 0.5 degrees below (27.5 degrees being the lowest recorded temperature).
This change in temperature can be caused by a backwash which is carried out during a time when the pool is closed which sees the pool flooded with new, cold water.
These internal checks are backed up by external, random checks by expert contractors and the council.
In the same time period the centre has received only three verbal complaints about pool temperature and two written complaints.
This is against a backdrop of over 40,000 customer visits to the pool during the same timeframe.
1Life does take the comfort of its visitors very seriously and responds to every customer complaint regarding pool temperatures. This rigorous checking procedure helps us to ensure that the pools are maintained at a comfortable level for all swimmers in each of the pools.
Spalding Town Forum was due to discuss the complaints on Thursday (September 17). Report to follow in September 24 edition.
- What do you think – is the water too cool? Is cleanliness below par? Email [email protected] or write to us at The Spalding and South Holland Voice, Units 1&2, 14-16 Winsover Road, Spalding PE11 1EJ.
