programme. That’s 15,000 for 2009. This Building the temporary pool at the MEN
year, we hope to get closer to teaching arena (top and left). School appeal (above)
25,000 kids using this method.”
floor so we need to be extra vigilant space and access are often limited so we
It’s showtime about leaks or overflows.” design the plant to go through double
Temporary swimming pools are not just The SkyPool system has also been in- doors and moved using pallet trucks.”
an effective means of helping people stalled for use at the FINA long and short Another mobile pool provider In-
learn to swim. Such facilities also play course World Swimming Championships varmex’s managing director Bill Tuplin
an important role in showcasing wa- in indoor arenas in Manchester, Barce- also advocates the benefits of temporary
ter-based activities and staging major lona and Shanghai. The company was swimming pools. “We can provide a 25m
competition events in venues that are also the first to install a 50m x 25m x 3m pool in a dry stadium, erect in double-
traditionally renowned for ‘dry’ use. temporary pool at the Rod Laver Arena quick time and take it down even quicker,”
The annual Leisure Industry Week (LIW) in Melbourne, Australia. AstralPool com- says Tuplin. “So the stadium can revert
event at Birmingham’s NEC boasts a tem- mercial manager Simon Jones says that back to its dry state for the next event.”
porary pool to showcase pool building each venue needs to be able demon- Furthermore, Invarmex and AstralPool
and maintenance technology, as well as strate it can accommodate the SkyPool. have both seen local authorities and lei-
demonstrations in the latest swimming “We carry out a site survey to check sure operators look to the use of mobile
training techniques and initiatives. that the venue is capable of a pool in- pools to retain swimming provision in
LIW has partnered with AstralPool stallation and if the required electrical, an area where permanent facilities are
since 2005 to provide a temporary water and waste drains services are suit- undergoing refurbishment. But Steve
SkyPool facility. Show organiser Jonny able. If there are any doubts over the Parry believes that temporary pools can
Sullens explains that the relationship has suitability of the floor then we recom- complement existing provision.
enabled the event to boast the pool area, mend that a structural survey is carried “If people don’t want to spend
despite having little margin for delay as a out. This is particularly essential when £4-5m on a 25m swimming pool that’s
result of tight tenancy arrangements. installing a 25m or 50m pool.” only going to affect a certain area,
“We begin with a planning meeting,” Ensuring that plumbing and filtration they can invest in a facility that they
says Sullens. “Then Astral liaises with its systems are designed correctly is another can then move around to schools or
partners and submits technical plans to part of the SkyPool’s operation that is groups based on needs,” he says.
our operations team. These are checked determined by the nature of the venue. “However, I would hope that in the
by an independent health and safety ad- “The filtration plant design depends on long term there is enough pool access
visor before being approved. the pool size,” Jones says. “The filtration for children and adults across the
“Astral arrives at the NEC to install plant is pre-plumbed onto skids at our fac- country. Temporary pools shouldn’t
the pool as soon as our tenancy com- tory, these are then ready for installation be used as an excuse not to build proper
mences,” Sullens explains. “Time is the at the venue. When large pools are in- leisure facilities. They should be there
main challenge, as we have just three stalled the filtration plant would normally to accompany the delivery of swimming
days to build the pool and one-and-a- be situated under the temporary pool and not to replace pool space.” ●
half days to dismantle it. In addition, deck and the filtration plant would be de-
the power at the NEC runs beneath the signed to fit underneath. On smaller pools, Pete Hayman is a Leisure Media journalist
Issue 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 41
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