A discussion on the “cold” water temperature at Spalding swimming pool quickly reignited the debate on whether the 41-year-old building should be refurbished or rebuilt.
It came after South Holland district councillor Graham Dark labelled changing rooms at Castle Sports Complex “disgusting”.
His damning assessment echoed the sentiments of several Voice readers who say the dated facilities are “dirty” and unacceptable. Some are now shunning the place to go to other towns’ pools.
But Castle ward member Gary Taylor says the pool is seeing increasing user numbers, and it was not the council’s fault if people came in with mucky footwear or were leaving dirty nappies.
The centre has received only 17 comments on the changing rooms this year – eight of which were positive. 1Life, which runs the centre on behalf of the council, says cleaning schedules are reviewed on a regular basis and have been changed twice in the past eight months.
“The lifeguards inspect the changing rooms on every rotation off poolside to check the cleanliness of the areas and deal with any issues that arise,” it added.
Coun Dark, chairman of Spalding Disabled Swimming Club, says members are put off by the “cold” main pool and he criticised the state of changing rooms hired by football teams using Castle Field. Tiles missing and showers not working were among the faults.
He told Spalding Town Forum’s meeting last week: “They are disgusting – and we rent them out.
“You would just not believe what they are like. It reflects on the town.”
Coun Peter Williams said: “We need an estimate to see what it needs [to refurbish the place].”
However, referring to the prevailing financial climate, forum chairman Coun George Aley told him: “You’ve no chance of getting to first base with that.”
Yet Coun Angela Newton believes Sleaford Leisure Centre, which is also run by 1Life, is a great example of what can be achieved. It reopened in October 2013 after a £2.85m revamp.
She said: “Some who view it thought that it was a brand new facility, [because] it was so good.”
Forum member John Honnor queried the logic in council tax reductions by the district council when repairs were needed.
The issue of improving the Castle Sports Complex was last looked at a year ago.
A task group chaired by Coun Aley and including Coun Dark said the buildings were structurally sound but not fit for purpose.
Full statement by 1Life: The cleaning schedules at Castle Sports Complex are reviewed on a regular basis and have been changed twice in the past eight months. The lifeguards inspect the changing rooms on every rotation off poolside to check the cleanliness of the areas and deal with any issues that arise. All team members are given full training upon induction and refresher training has been given in June and in August when the external cleaning supplier came to site to deliver a training programme. The site is also subject to regular internal audits and is monitored externally.
Customers could help us maintain the overall cleanliness of the changing areas in the following ways:
- Wearing the blue overshoes provided or removing their shoes whilst walking through the changing areas. This reduces the dirt levels in the changing area and also stops dirt being walked through to poolside. If there are no blue overshoes in the changing areas please inform a member of staff who will replenish the stocks
- Putting their litter in the bins provided in each changing area
- Putting nappies and sanitary wear in the appropriate bins provided
- What’s your view? Email [email protected] or write to us at The Spalding and South Holland Voice, Units 1&2, 14-16 Winsover Road, Spalding PE11 1EJ
