SWIMMING SWIMMING STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
As London 2012 approaches and the need for investment legacies close in, evidence of what’s already been achieved in terms of swimming facilities is showcased in The Leisure Database Company’s latest report. By David Minton
pliers on the state of and changes to the industry’s swimming pool facilities. The report reveals swimming to be one
T
Region Eastern
East Midlands London
Northeast Northwest
Northern Ireland Scotland Southeast Southwest Wales
West Midlands Yorkshire & Humberside
Total market All UK clubs
of the most accessible sports with 84 per cent of people in the UK living within two miles of their nearest swimming pool, whether that’s a public or private facility.
TYPE AND LOCATION OF POOLS The report shows that throughout the UK a total of 4,674 swimming pools are operated across the 3,311 UK public and private sites with swimming facilities. The UK stock is predominantly oper-
ated in the public sector with 2,769 pool facilities at public sports centres and 1,905 pool facilities at private health clubs. In the 12 months to 31 March 2011, the
increase in pool facilities on offer through the public sector sports centres offset the
Private clubs with swimming pool facilities – regional breakdown
Clubs % Clubs 160 100 191 55
10% 6%
12% 3%
195 21
138 268 171 62
121 101
12% 1% 9%
17% 11% 4% 8% 6%
1,583 100%
he recently released 2011 State of the UK Swimming Industry Report sets out to inform na- tional and local government as well as operators and sup-
marginal decline in the swimming pool facilities at private health clubs. Regional variations are apparent too.
Northern Ireland and the Northeast of England have the lowest provision of pools, while the Southeast of England has the highest provision. In the public sector, Scotland shares the highest re- gional provision with Southeast England.
PRICING VARIATIONS In the public sector, swimming prices vary across the regions. The average cost of a pay and play adult swim among public sector pools ranges from £2.76 in Northern Ireland (18 per cent below UK average) to £3.89 in London (15 per cent above UK average). The top five trusts notably charge
higher than the average adult pay and play fee for swims at their centres.
NATIONAL STOCK In regard to what type of pools are in the national stock, the Swimming Industry
Public sports centres with swimming pool facilities – regional breakdown
Region Eastern
East Midlands London
Northeast Northwest
Northern Ireland Scotland Southeast Southwest Wales
West Midlands Yorkshire & Humberside
Total market All UK sports centres
32 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital
Clubs % Clubs 149 125 143 67
9% 7% 8% 4%
188 43
219 221 182 130 128 133
1,728
11% 2%
13% 13% 11% 8% 7% 8%
100%
The free Splashpath app offers pool and timetable information to encourage people to swim on a more regular basis. It currently has more than 26,000 subscribers
Report reveals the make-up of the stock to be mainly indoor main pools (58.8 per cent). Teaching pools make up more than 25 per cent, 7 per cent are leisure pools and 7 per cent are outdoor pools.
SECTOR DIFFERENCES In the private health club sector, the majority of pools are found at multi-site
Public and private: swimming pools by facility type
Outdoor 7.1%
Indoor leisure 6.7%
Indoor teaching 25.9%
2+72+2+2+ 7 777777772+k72+7+777+77777 +72+72+ + Diving 1.5%
Indoor main 58.8%
Issue 4 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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