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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:
Original poster
pleasemothermay1 · 14/09/2016 20:32

Sadly don't live in London

OP posts:
Lunchboxlewiswillyoumarryme · 14/09/2016 20:34

Same here.its shite

SquinkiesRule · 14/09/2016 20:42

Same for us with the pools, free swim tine if like an hour 4 times a week.
I'd been hoping to go and have a leisurely swim wile Dd was in school on my days off, not a chance, schools all day every day, swim teams/clubs and lane swimming only after school, and lessons saturday mornings, then an hour of free before more booked activities.
It's great that the pool is in constant use, but does lock out a whole section of people who would like to go, but not be locked into a short time at set times of the day/week.
Our gym has no pool. I did hear that some of the hotels near us have indoor pools some have private swim lessons, not sure about them opening to the public at any time.

igivein · 14/09/2016 21:02

Whilst the government were siphoning money from the lottery to pay for the Olympics and blithering on about the 'Olympic legacy' the sports centre in our town was closed (and they started demolishing it before the result of the appeal against closure was in). So we didn't just lose the (well-used) pool, but all sports facilities altogether!

Shona52 · 14/09/2016 22:32

I found the same issue so joined a club with a pool

makingmiracles · 14/09/2016 22:32

We have a fusion run pool here, again shockingly bad availability, booked out to schools all day, both big and baby pools. Mother and baby sessions are always 2-3 so not an option if you have older children to collect from school, after school it's private lessons. All pools near us are like that sadly hence haven't been swimming for years and new baby probably won't get to go for some time yet as I have to go to my mums town 35 miles away to be able to just turn up and swim whenever you want.

lizzy152 · 14/09/2016 22:54

Our pool burton on Trent is great, plenty of availability, yes check the time table but slots everyday. It's so important your babies can swim. Shop around, head out of town a little if you need. Stick with it ladies

AlienTaxFiend · 14/09/2016 23:48

Why don't we all pay a little bit more tax (a quid a month) and have the public amenities we would like? 'Lottery funding' (£1-5 a week) should be for extras not essentials

windygallows · 15/09/2016 00:02

Yup, rubbish isn't it? It's just a sign of the times. No money to keep the pool open so they cater to whoever brings in money and ignore the whole idea of access for all. In the end loads of people just end up buying a gym pass and 'going private'.

Sound familiar.. maybe a bit like our NHS?

Public services more and more are for some but not all. I know the govt doesn't cater to my 'needs', is just interested in my tax income. Hey ho!

KeyserSophie · 15/09/2016 08:42

Surely swimming in the school day is a total waste of time- by the time they get there, get changed, change back and get back that has to be like a 1:3 swim: faff ratio.

sparechange · 15/09/2016 10:18

Why don't we all pay a little bit more tax (a quid a month) and have the public amenities we would like?

Who prioritises it though?
There are people who would like us all to be paying an extra £10 a week in tax for the NHS and think that is absolute priority. There are others who think the same about schools, elderly care, roads, green energy, defense, protecting our borders.
By the time we get down to paying our extra quid for pools, we've already had to pay £100 for all the other things which people think are a much bigger priority than leisure facilities...

SoleBizzz · 15/09/2016 10:21

I am joining Nuffield health club. £50 a month to avoid all this.

Notmuchtosay1 · 15/09/2016 14:29

Yes same here. The baby pool is available from 2pm Monday to Friday. I had to book into toddler classes to get in the pool. Children are all at school though now.
I have found a private pool now. Which is lovely. If I go with all my children in the school holidays it works out cheaper than a public pool too. It isn't available to hire weekends or evenings though. So I'm the opposite to you. I can't take the children as they are all at school. But yes, public pool is the same. Lessons all day.

Mypurplecaravan · 15/09/2016 14:42

Ours is open 1.5 hours every weekday for babies and toddlers. Schools in am and pm. Open over lunch. So we missed it today due to a late nap. But we'lloyds go next week instead

honkinghaddock · 15/09/2016 14:44

Swimming in the school day is the only time my son can go swimming. After school sessions and weekend sessions are too busy for him and evening sessions are too late. Swimming is also one of the very few activities he can do.

LurkingHusband · 15/09/2016 14:50

Why don't we all pay a little bit more tax (a quid a month) and have the public amenities we would like?

That ship sailed years ago. The Great British Public have voted. And - despite all the "we'd pay more tax" they spout for the cameras, the presence of a Conservative government (big "C" as it's very appropriate) comfortably in power for the next 4 years suggests the opposite.

I'm all right Jack.

BeardMinge · 15/09/2016 17:13

I live in NE London and swim regularly at three different pools run by Better (in different boroughs), both as a lane swimmer, and with my two year old. I have never had any problem using the toddler pool or the main pool at times convenient to me. Strange how much it differs from area to area.

gemtheboats · 15/09/2016 19:44

It's strange isn't it? We teach our children to swim, through school and paying for lessons, and then once they've learned the skill they have nowhere to use it!

sandbagsatdawn · 15/09/2016 21:50

Yeah, drives me round the bend, we have very limited time when we can actually get to the pool and half the time when I plan to go I find it's closed for one or another reason. The most annoying at mine is they have over 50s aqua class in the main pool, and the pool is closed to other users for that hour, including the baby pool which is NOT being used by the class. Grrr. It's in school time so it's not like they would be getting big kids making noise, it would only be babies FGS.

pollymere · 15/09/2016 23:23

It's because it's now mandatory for all children in Year 4 to learn swimming for the whole year. The pools are expected to not only accommodate them but any Year 5 who don't learn the first year. My daughter used to swim in a small outdoor pool rather than a baby pool, or a leisure pool as it can't be used for lane swimming.

iMogster · 16/09/2016 09:19

I am now realising how lucky I am in my Surrey town! Our Teaching pool is open from 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday for people to bring their babies and children on a drop in basis, no booking required. They rope off an area at one end, for lessons. It's open Sat and Sun mornings too.

When the 50+ class is in the main pool next to us, they blare out very loud music, much louder than babies and pre schoolers! I avoid going when that session is on. Can't stand ABBA

Paintedhandprints · 16/09/2016 09:30

We have many pools with baby and toddler sessions at different times of the day, here in Sheffield. However, we tend to go to a local hotel and pay to use their small pool. It's warm and has a spa bit. Generally quiet and they offer towels. Could you phone around hotels near you?

Scaredycat3000 · 16/09/2016 19:18

Yup same here. School lessons all day, followed by after school lessons till 6pm, 7pm selective demographic session. I had to leave with my two DS's then aged 3 & 6 as it was ladies night, I offered to swap DC with a father who was being asked to leave with his young DD's Grin It is really hard trying to get any kind of regular experience and so confidence of swimming with your own DC. Trying to get nervous small DC to relax in the mayhem of those precious few hours that anybody can actually use the pool is just not happening. So we have to pay. We have to pay somebody else to teach our DC. Glad those snowflake over 50's get their own private sessions, I'd just like more open sessions for all. All of the swimming pools round here are the same timetables, I couldn't believe it Sad

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 17/09/2016 09:08

Mine is also crap. It is only open to 1:30 at weekends.

There's no late nights ( just swimming lessons until about 6:30)

There are 3 pools within a 20 minute distance. One is so crowded it's just pointless even trying to get in. One is privately owned, and the changing rooms make my flesh crawl, and it's not open at the weekends except for swimming lessons. The other one is just Ok.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 17/09/2016 09:09

I'm in Sheffield too. I think the provision for swimming is shite.