TALKBACK
Sports Management asks:
How many 50m
pools do we need?
A
lthough there are weekly reports Commonwealth Games and European
of swimming pool closures, Championships – but how does the use of
there’s been a definite increase in 50m compare to the standard 25m pools at
the development of 50m swim- community level and what about the under-
ming pools in recent years. lying risks and associated affordability?
This extended pool size certainly fits the We ask four industry experts whether
elite training brief for the world’s major 50m pools are the best way to service both
swimming events – such as the Olympic and elite as well as local needs and how many
Paralympic Games, World Championships, more pools of this size are actually needed.
Swimming Facts
Throughout the UK, almost 12 million people of all ages and abilities enjoy
swimming regularly, whether for fun, fitness or competition. According to
Sport England’s Active People Survey 2, swimming remains the highest par-
ticipation sport with a total of 3.24 million adults taking part at a ‘moderate
intensity for 30 minutes or more’ at least once a week.
KEITH ASHTON CHIEF EXECUTIVE, S&P ARCHITECTS
N
ational strategy, facility consolida- is the exemplar. Efficiencies of scale in design, construction
tion, needs analysis, demand model- and operational flexibility, linked to technical improvements
ing and political will often conflict in insulation, heating, ventilation and water treatment all help
when considering the development of a to turn economic deficit into a position of being cash positive
50m pool over a 25m pool. In addition to with the replacement of the existing pool.
these issues there is the underlying ques- When measuring economic and environmental sustainability
tion of risk and associated affordability. and capacity for social participation, a regional flagship 50m
“They’re far too expensive to run” is often pool development coupled with consolidated local community
heard. True, and the rise in energy costs has not helped, how- 25m swimming provision provides an excellent and balanced
ever, local authorities now need to assess development based solution. People will travel greater distances to the 50m pool
on comparative whole life costs and this is where 50m pools and the flexibility of its configuration will mean that full
can win the economic argument. programming of the space is achievable. The local community
There is a misconception that 50m pools cost twice as much provision can be scoped appropriately to the local need.
as 25m pools to run. Staffing levels are actually similar and With 2012 motivating participation; prudential borrowing at
energy costs are only up by 50 per cent rather than doubled. In its lowest level; keen tender pricing in the construction market;
fact excluding revenues the actual (whole life) running cost of improved availability of relevant expertise from operators, archi-
a 50m pool with associated development over a 30-year period tects, the ASA and SportEngland and a need to consolidate swim-
is circa £10m, a 25m pool would be £7.5m. The difference in ming provision and offer economic efficiencies across leisure
revenues would more than cover this difference. With more provision, there’s never been a better time to invest in a consoli-
than one million visits a year, Crawley’s 50m pool facility, K2, dated swimming pool strategy with a 50m pool at its heart.
18 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2009 © cybertrek 2009
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