The leisure users of Spalding Castle Pool can only hope that the much publicised new service provider Parkwood delivers quickly on their promise to improve facilities. The old SHDC excuse: ‘we have had issues with 1-Life’ will not cut it anymore.
On recent visits only two lanes have been available for swimming (due to classes being moved into the main pool) and the children’s pool must have been shut more times than it has been open.
The sauna was out of action for more than a month due to a missing piece of wood (no doubt a full tender submission was required), then closed due a heater failure. On my most recent visit the sauna was closed for the foreseeable future due to ‘not meeting current standards’, no doubt this will take at least six months to sort or longer.
The gents’ changing room is a disgrace, with recently relayed vinyl peeling away again and turning mouldy. Tiles are broken and edgings exposed with sealant that was used to adhere just showing and not being re-fixed. The skimmers around the pool line are so thick with scum you can actually write you name in it with your nail.
There surely must be some sort of malaise going on in leisure services, does the portfolio holder for the site not visit the pool? Because if so they must do so with their eyes closed. The whole place needs a thorough deep clean from top to bottom.
The Parkwood team have some lovely new t-shirts and some lovely new signs have been put up, but it doesn’t really solve the problems…
With SHDC General Reserves of close to £9m (yes that’s right, £9m) isn’t it about time some of this money was put to good use and help improve facilities?
Perhaps we could also sort a few more issues out and have serviced toilet facilities in town and more patrols to enforce the seemingly non existent no alcohol area – just saying…
James Le Sage
Spring Gardens
Spalding
