Commonwealth Pool closed for *two* years??

[curlyredhead]

I had vaguely heard there was to be refurbishments, but I checked today and it closes at the end of June 09 and doesn't reopen till sometime late 2011. I'm not a great fan of taking little ones swimming there, too cold, but Clambers is a pretty good soft play and one of the few that are ok-ish to get ot on the bus.... with that and lots of the museum being closed for years as well, I don't know what I'm going to do with my lot....

I know. It sucks.

It's the only soft-play within walking distance for us. By the time it re-opens the kids will likely be too old to go. It's a PITA ...... Mind you, it should be fab once it's reopened!

They should lay on special free buses to Ratho for Scrambles.

I hate Clambers because DS gets himself lost in the age inappropriate bit which DH kindly showed him how to use, then usually gets knocked over by an energetic 8 year old.

However I can still empathise over its loss.

I believe that there was talking of putting soft play into the sports centre at Craiglockhart. Not much use for me though as it's quite hard to get to by bus from here.

I should have spotted a gap in the market and opened a soft play nearby the pool.

That really is crap.

They may as well close the whole of Edinburgh what with the tram works, museum etc.

Tramworks provide great digger action for those interested though.....

We are just near the bypass so I am planning to venture to Loanhead for swimming. It is probably quicker to get there actually!

Anyone been?

Loanhead is v nice pool and changing rooms are v warm - that was what I meant about commie pool, the changing is chilly! Loanhead doesn't have cafe for after, just drinks/snack machines.

Sign up at clambers says craiglockhart opens soft play in Aug - frustratingly we live about 1/2 mile from there as the crow flies but it will take two buses or one plus a longish walk. But might well be worth it!

It was Monday we were at clambers - when the rain was throwing it down - and they had to clear everyone out of it because the rain started coming through the roof - so renovation def good thing!

Ah, warm changing rooms. That's what I like to hear.

We moved in a few blocks away from Commonwealth Pool a couple of weeks ago. Found Clambers in the edinburgh-under-fives book, got all excited, went there at 5.30pm to find out it was closing for two years in an hour's time.

So a lot of the Clambers equipment will go to Craiglockhart, said the helpers, but the soft play there will not open until August and when it does it will be for the 1-6 year age range - not so scary, but not so much fun either. And a good long bus ride...

A guy at my work was a lifeguard at the RCP in the summers as a student, he says it has a special "heritage" type status and there is some magic to the way the internal supporting structure works, so they're limited in what they can rip out and repair. It didn't look to me as if it was suffering from more than neglect, though.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Commonwealth_Pool

There is a toddler play in the hall of a nearby church just off south clerk road, St Peters, which DH thinks is wonderful and he gets to hang out with other geeky-academic at-home dads... but it's only two mornings a week, Mon and Thurs.

I was so excited arriving at Commonwealth on Monday to actually get a space in the carpark.. it only dawned on us very slowly (after actually walking into building!) that something a bit odd was going on... I think I was more disappointed than DS.

LOL, iggi! It looks rather sad and desolate now.

There's definitley a gap in the market for a soft play in the area now. I was contemplating turning my back garden into a ball pit and renting it out .

Dynamic Earth is quite good for little toddlers - not too pricey (though if you add on the parking it is. Good if you need to keep a closer eye on the just toddling as you sit in the "play" room with them.

Yes, my friend who is a fan of Clambers raves about Dynamic Earth too.