Forum Topic

Fracas/shenanigans/stushie/broigas at the swimming pool

You can hire the big pool for your child's birthday party - costs quite a bit but they put in this HUGE inflatable and everyone has a fabulous time.Unless of course you are a normal member of the public who wants to use the pool on a Saturday afternoon. And arrive to find you can't because the pool is closed to ordinary members/the public.Apparently one furious would-be swimmer on Saturday got so angry that he wasn't allowed to swim, with no notice, that he had to be escorted off the premises by security. There was quite a kerfuffle (another good word that has re-emerged courtesy of Top Gear)I don't sympathise with abusing staff (or punching them hard qv Mr Clarkson)but it must have been so cross-making. Is there any way of letting punters know, before they set out, if the pool or other facilities are going to be closed?

Sara Nathan ● 4195d11 Comments

You couldn't make it up.That video is awesome.

Richard Grange ● 4186d

I don't know if you remember The Day Today? 90's satire?They did a bit on acton pool. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WJIfykRoWo

Alexander Powrie ● 4186d

Granted - but at the moment i go swimming about once a week which costs just over £3 a trip or £150 a year.A membership would cost approx £400 a year.So i would love some kind of swimmers pass where i could pay for 20 trips in advance and maybe top up as I go.

Richard Grange ● 4194d

If you joined of course, you wouldnt have to stop at reception at all...just straight through to pool or gym

Sara Nathan ● 4194d

Wish there was a like button - totally agree

Sue Buchan ● 4194d

It's interesting that the swimming pool / gym etc is still doing what the building was originally designed to do when it was built 100 years ago - helping people (who at that time often lived in unhealthy conditions) to get fit.But its crying out for a bit more visionary management. Why not extend the opening hours, maybe have a swimmers pass for regular swimmers who want to click in and out without having to queue - and when the Curzon comes hook up with the cinema and exploit the library a bit more? Why not have a swim and film session, or advertise is as a place you can swim and read? Could the library become a venue for a bit of pop-up theatre?The point is - you could actually spend the whole afternoon down there if you wanted - but it is down to being a bit more creative with how it is advertised / used.

Richard Grange ● 4194d

I was just asked to complete a survey this weekend - including satisfaction with opening hours.But there was nowhere to say WHAT changes would be good (half an hour earlier opening weekday and half hour - 1 hour earlier on weekend days would be my preference.The exercise classes are getting very crowded too - I wonder if there will be more of them.

Sara Nathan ● 4195d

I've really enjoyed the pool and the facilities and so have my kids.In some ways they are a victim of their own success - it is getting more and more popular and I'd argue there is a case for longer hours and a 10pm closing time to give free swimmers a chance after Ealing Swimming Clib has finished.But I think so much of this "tension" could be resolved with better management and planning. It genuinely can't be that hard, and everyone, including staff would benefit.

Richard Grange ● 4195d

Totally agree with number 3 - they could even install a automatic payment machine for those of us with just a simple ticket to buy.

Sue Buchan ● 4195d

Made worse by the fact that the pool was closed first thing because the chlorine levels were wrong. Come back after 11 they said. Coming back at 11:40 to find that the pool is about to close for a party at 12:30 which was never mentioned at 8:15 does not help anyone. Why don't the staff tell punters the full story not half of one? There is a way of letting punters know - they text and email me every week to try to get me to join. So they could text everyone, email everyone, tweet everyone or put something on their web site - if it was kept up to date then people would check it

Sue Buchan ● 4195d

I love the pool and find the staff generally friendly - but they need to sort this out as a matter of urgency.Turning up hoping to swim is a total lottery - regardless of what the timetable says. (Which is a bit silly really) I have been turned away at various points because - "the pool is too busy" - and when I insisted on looking found that there were only seven people in it.I have also been turned away because a party session has been re-scheduled into a free swim period without them telling anyone.Its especially difficult for people who have read the timetable and then travelled a long way to go swimming (spending bus fares etc) only to be told about a last minute re-arrangement.I am sure the staff don't enjoy being shouted at by angry swimmers either and a lot of this could be avoided by better planning.My advice would be 1) Stick to the timetable (If it says its a "free" swim period - it remains a free swim period whatever happens)2) Unforeseen events (eg damage to the inflatable play area) should be posted as a matter of urgency on-line and on the doors of the swimming pool.3) And while I am at it - they should also designate roles at the front desk. One person to deal with lengthy membership enquiries and one person to sell tickets. You can stand for 20 minutes just to buy a ticket to get in because you are stuck behind a row of people with lengthy queries.

Richard Grange ● 4195d