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SWIMMING - DROP IN NUMBERS

121 replies

Bitterlemon12 · 29/01/2015 19:08

Has anyone seen the news today saying there is a huge drop in the numbers of people going swimming every week. Just want to rant on this! Hardly surprising and not news! The swimming pools in Swindon where I live are expensive, around £5 upwards per swim, per person, and totally run down and freezing cold with repulsive, smelly, disgusting changing rooms. My 2 year old goes purple with the cold and I find it unbearable at times.

If it was free, or say £1 per time I would love to go on a regular basis maybe twice a week but no wonder no one wants to go at the moment!

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 29/01/2015 20:17

I would like to go once in a while on my own in school hours. But it's all school swimming lessons and Aqua Aerobics/Over 60s/Parent and Child.

That said it's really ££ and not that nice an experience so maybe not.

ANewMein2015 · 29/01/2015 20:18

Even at £3 a person that's £12 for a family (its a bit more than that here). To swim weekly would be £48 a month. With 2 in swimming lessons at £5 a week each would be £40 a month - that would be £88 a month just to have lessons and a family swim!!!

We'd love to do that (and I did growing up) but it isn't something we could afford and its easy to see why its no longer a cheap option!

meglet · 29/01/2015 20:37

our council pool is actually really nice . It's just a PITA to slot in a family session between private lessons.

Itsgoingtoreindeer · 29/01/2015 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

everygalaxy · 30/01/2015 10:34

I used to go every week after work - it was ladies only, really warm, £3 for an hour. It was bliss. But the pool closed at Christmas. Sad Really, really miss my swim but the nearest pool is now 8 miles away and twice the price.

CarlaVeloso · 30/01/2015 11:37

I agree ladies only sessions would probably appeal to a lot of women.

Probably not allowed to say that on Mumsnet...Hmm

everygalaxy · 30/01/2015 12:14

It was just a happy coincidence for me that the only time I could make was the ladies swim - we live in a rural community so limited sessions. I miss it so much - lost loads of weight and felt lots fitter.

BossWitch · 30/01/2015 12:20

I wanted to go swimming at my local council pool twice a week to help get fitter and lose some weight. It would have worked out more expensive than joining the virgin active gym, where I would have full use if pool, sauna area, gym and classes. Insane.

whatithink · 30/01/2015 12:21

Expensive and freezing cold.

steppeinginto2015 · 30/01/2015 12:30

waves at OP
we are also Swindon. Problem is that none of the pools belong to LA any more, they are all some private company. The cost of normal adult swim is horrendous, you used to be able to get a card which cut the price, now it is only pensioners etc who get a discount.

But OP the Oasis is warm and a nice swim, Changing rooms aren't great though.

I can't afford to take my family swimming. It is more than a meal out.

CMOTDibbler · 30/01/2015 12:37

Our local council pools are great - the one in my town is £3.40 for adults, £2.80 for children, and under 5's are free. There are cheaper times for adults, and you can prepay 12 swims for the price of 10.

Its v clean, pool is warm enough, and the opening times are good.

OllyBJolly · 30/01/2015 12:43

We go to our LA pool every Saturday afternoon. It's free for children and £3.50 for adults. We stay for 2 hours and for at least some of the time we are the only people in the pool. At most, there will be 2 other families and a lone swimmer.

I really can't understand why it's not more popular. Pleasant enough changing rooms so can't be that.

coppertop · 30/01/2015 12:46

Ours is nearly £10 for one adult and one child.

The restrictions on the number of under-8s allowed per adult was also a big barrier for many families. It's really not all that surprising that the numbers are down.

susanontheshore · 30/01/2015 12:55

I love swimming. I swim every morning at a hotel pool which is warm and clean.

But the changing rooms smell of fannies.

And yesterday there was a fanny bogey on the wall of the shower.

juneybean · 30/01/2015 12:55

It's the price for me, far too expensive at our council run swimming pool.

Orangeanddemons · 30/01/2015 14:28

Fanny bogey Grin

OllyBJolly · 30/01/2015 15:44

The restrictions on the number of under-8s allowed per adult was also a big barrier for many families. It's really not all that surprising that the numbers are down.

Very good point, Coppertop I forget about that because these rules were not in force when i took my children. If they were, I wouldn't have been able to take my two swimming until the youngest was 4 or older. Bit ironic as by 4/5 she was a much more confident swimmer than I'll ever be!

I guess that rules out swimming for a lot of families.

DearGirl · 30/01/2015 15:52

We pay £3.40 for adult and toddler swimming; we tend to be in there for about 50 minutes before we get cold etc

LRB978 · 30/01/2015 15:59

Here it is £4.60 an adult per session, and £2.40 a child. However there is a local card which reduces that to £3.50 per adult and free for children, or if local card concession, £1 per adult. Also, if you have membership at £27 per month, you get access to the gym, aerobics classes and the pool for no extra charge.

NotCitrus · 30/01/2015 16:04

I have a lovely new council pool a few minutes walk away. Thing is, there's swimming lessons from school to bedtime in the week and on weekend mornings, and pool parties weekend afternoons, so there's a 2-hour slot I can take my kids to on Sat or Sun, but if you don't get into the small pool bang on 12 you don't get in and having paid, have to go in the main pool and I have to hold the 2yo up. If I could book in advance to guarantee being let in the small pool, I'd go every couple weeks.

Hurrying a 2 and 5yo to change to hope to get in, or getting there early and having to stand and wait for a class to finish, is no fun.

ProfYaffle · 30/01/2015 16:15

Our local pool is reasonably priced but the opening hours were reduced. With school swimming and childrens lessons also taken into account there are hardly any general swimming sessions and those that are available are jam packed so you don't even get a good workout while you're there. Plus they stopped their discount swimming card thing. The whole place is looking run down and grotty so I just don't go any more.

Unidentifieditem · 30/01/2015 17:01

Our local pool is FILTHY. It has tiles missing on the floor and a yoga style mat to cover it (in the water!!) £5 a pop despite this. I hope they all fucking go bust. Sick of local councils milking punters for every last penny with little care taken for hygiene or quality of service. All the pools are run by better.org better st what exactly?! Spreading verrucas?

Unidentifieditem · 30/01/2015 17:02

Oh and yes- all slots given over to classes so no room for free swims apart from the odd hour session.

nightingale452 · 30/01/2015 18:27

It's just TOO BLOODY COLD, that's why. I'm sure it's fine if you're bombing up and down lanes Olympic style, but for those of us standing around with a child who isn't a strong enough swimmer to be left alone, I've had enough in ten minutes and I'm shaking in 15. There are never any decent changing facilities or hairdryers, so you have to go out into zero degrees slightly damp with wet hair. Not my idea of fun, thanks.

Madcatgirl · 30/01/2015 18:32

This explains why my son has suddenly jumped up the waiting list and lessons have dropped to starting age of 4 from the 4.5 it was three weeks ago. They also wanted £50 upfront, which is also new. It was always done on a reasonable I they direct debit. I said I haven't got £50 spare today, so he's back at the bottom of the list again. I assume this is in response to falling numbers of other swimmers.