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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think this is not really a public pool

129 replies

pleasemothermay1 · 13/09/2016 16:31

In my area we have about 4 pools only 2 have baby pools tried to go swimming today told its booked up with schools everyday until 2 there would then be no point in going as I have to do school run

I asked about the other pool there booked up from 10 to 3 wtf I couldn't even go in the big pool as it had lane swimming and the othe location had swim a robics

Not very public really if no one but clubs and schools who have booked a year in advance get to use the pool

OP posts:
IceBeing · 13/09/2016 16:55

YANBU...we had the same problem with sports hall hire. A school has block booked all day everyday. Build your own jeffing sports hall.....

BarbarianMum · 13/09/2016 16:55

Are people who do lane swimming or go to swim clubs not members of the public then? Are local schools not full of children whose parents pay council tax?

honkinghaddock · 13/09/2016 16:55

Ds can only attend public disability sessions. They are available in only one local pool once a fortnight at a time that is too late for him. School sessions are his only chance to go.

Original poster
pleasemothermay1 · 13/09/2016 16:57

That's not my issue

The libuary manage to host schools and keep the public access

You don't need every lane a frigging swim lane they could have two or 3 and let other people who want to potter in the water have a go

They could let people in the baby pool in between swim lessons witch they say they don't allow

OP posts:
GettingScaredNow · 13/09/2016 16:57

Yep.

In London here and local taken over by 'better'.
Prices increased and availability decreased.
Baby pool doesn't seem to be open hardly at all and the big pool is too big to take ds into and is full of swim lessons anyway!
Has an outdoor pool that is open sporadically

TheUnseenAcademic · 13/09/2016 16:58

I just want to add that my local (city) pool doesn't have this issue at all- they close sections for lessons & schools but are mostly open to the general public. I usually rock up with nearly no planning during the day! They also have open parent&toddler sessions in the small pool every morning. So I totally agree with you- the access your pool is giving the general public is shockingly poor, and I think that your library analogy works very well.

SuperFlyHigh · 13/09/2016 16:58

Barbarian - but this is bad planning really by the pool. They must know that parents with babies often have other school pickups etc so the 2pm onwards slot won't work for them.

would it kill them to have say one morning for mother and baby swim session?

SuperFlyHigh · 13/09/2016 16:59

OP - the swim lane pool - surely that'd be too deep for you and your baby? but ok for you if you wanted to swim alone.

honkinghaddock · 13/09/2016 17:00

Schools have a lot of children in the pool at the same time and also take over the changing rooms. It isn't practical to have others in at the same time.

SuperFlyHigh · 13/09/2016 17:01

Getting - I hate Better... my local work Better is ALWAYS packed and so are the classes. Not much use for me.

Luckily Fusion who tend to own all the London SE gyms seem to have gone bust or at least one has I think according to a friend - I may be wrong on that score though!

WeDoNotSow · 13/09/2016 17:01

Yes, if it massively bothers you then write, however I don't quite understand the complaining about tax payers money.
School children and people who pay for lessons are surely members of the public too?
I don't see why anybody would begrudge 'their taxes' being spent on school kids tbh

BarbarianMum · 13/09/2016 17:02

I agree that it could be better organised, I just think the OP would be better advised to use the "equality of access" argument rather then banging on about "tax payers money" because that makes little/no sense.

Original poster
pleasemothermay1 · 13/09/2016 17:03

OP - the swim lane pool - surely that'd be too deep for you and your baby? but ok for you if you wanted to swim

this is what I mean so when do non swimmers get to bloody swim and the poster above who has a disabled child maybe if they let mothers take there children swimming they may not swim lessons at school

OP posts:
FluffyWuffyFuckYou · 13/09/2016 17:03

but this is bad planning really by the pool

Getting lots of money from schools and companies instead of the chance of a couple of quid from the odd mother and baby is bad planning? I think actually its called making money and keeping the place open.

honkinghaddock · 13/09/2016 17:04

In my local town there is one public pool and about 20 primary schools all wanting to use the pool for lessons.

SuperFlyHigh · 13/09/2016 17:07

FluffyWuffy - we don't know the need for mum and baby swim sessions in OP's area.

LBOCS2 · 13/09/2016 17:08

Ooh, which one Super? I'm right in the heart of Fusion-land.

Original poster
pleasemothermay1 · 13/09/2016 17:08

I wonder if people just give up trying to go and then they can say oh no demand I know I won't be back

OP posts:
Goingtobeawesome · 13/09/2016 17:09

Yep, here too can only use it at set times and their on line time table is in Russian so no chance of being able to work out when we can go. Diving board pool is closed until 4 "for when the school kids come." Er, what about home schooled kids, etc.

SuperFlyHigh · 13/09/2016 17:10

LBOCS" - I think it was Brockwell Lido but no idea... they have gym attached to it...

according to their website they still own it but it wasn't me who went it was a friend who is now cancelling. Maybe they were just being arsey over her usage.

FluffyWuffyFuckYou · 13/09/2016 17:11

FluffyWuffy - we don't know the need for mum and baby swim sessions in OP's area

Do you know who probably does know though> The people running the pool! Clever how that works.
If they would make more money by leaving it free for women and babies, they'd be doing that. They arent.

LurkingHusband · 13/09/2016 17:12

There's always a life at sea :

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37348292

has 23 pools apparently.

Generally, public swimming provision in England is pisspoor. Not a new thing. My DB swum at a very high level and was involved with exchange trips with European swimming teams. He said everywhere he went in Europe seemed to have more - and newer - pools.

Now those pesky Olympics are out of the way, councils can breath a sigh of relief, and quietly move "public sport facilities" off the "to do" agenda and onto the "for sale" agenda.

RhodaBorrocks · 13/09/2016 17:14

The only time the local pool could squeeze my DS's school in for swimming lessons was 7 chuffing 30 in the morning!!! I had to drop him there, then school took him back to school with his class. They arrived at school on time to start a full day of lessons. School was late to book the pool and it was completely booked out so they 'kindly agreed' this arrangement. DS loves swimming so I couldn't refuse. I can imagine how the 'before work' swimmers must have felt!!!

I love swimming but can't go during the day as I work and can't go in the evening because of DS. Weekends are packed with families trying to do the same as me and it's a real scrum at times, with people being turned away. So I think you're being a LBU OP. In my area we have lots of parent/baby swimming classes, could you not do one of those? Then at least you'd get a regular slot.

NotCitrus · 13/09/2016 17:15

My local pool is run by Better and while the admin and website are appalling, at least there is almost always half the main pool available for swimming with a child - they tried to say we should get out when Aquafit started but the gaggle of over-50s said we weren't in their way so we stayed.
The small pool is either having lessons in it or shut, except from 2-4 on Saturdays when it's full so you aren't allowed in (can't book in advance)

For extra amusement value the creche has to be booked in advance but the swimming can't be, even though all other Better pools let you book swimming online.

Nearby pool has no availablity at all for any non-school to swim from 9am until 5.45pm!

PikachuBoo · 13/09/2016 17:16

Go before 10 or after 2?

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