02-27 NEWS:SPN Master pages 18/5/09 15:16 Page 9
spnnews
NEWS IN BRIEF
Swimming in Wigan
booms
Thousands more people in Wigan
are using the borough’s swimming
pools thanks to the introduction of
free swimming for all.
Wigan, one of the first
authorities in the country to
launch a free swimming scheme,
has figures to prove it’s all been
New 50 metre pool will add significantly to West Country’s swimming facilities
worthwhile. Latest figures show
residents are signing up to the
scheme in their droves with 36,383
people using the borough’s pools. £46.5M PLYMOUTH SCHEME
More than 15,000 under-16s
and almost 5,000 over-60s have
retained their membership since
TO INCLUDE 50 METRE POOL
the introduction of free swimming One of the few 50 metre swimming pools in the West of England is to form part of the £46.5m sports and
for these age groups since they leisure centre scheme in Plymouth’s Central Park.
were launched. The Life Centre scheme will see the city’s biggest investment in leisure facilities and will be one of the
country’s leading centres of aquatic excellence. Lead architects Archial have been developing the Life Centre
with engineering consultants ARUP, build asset consultancy EC Harris, in conjunction with Council officers
Tougher safety laws and more than 50 different stakeholder groups.
Queensland in Australia is The Life Centre will also boast a relaxing health suite with sauna, steam rooms and showers, and an impressive
preparing to introduce tougher 50metre swimming pool. Plymouth City Council Leader Vivien Pengelly said: “We are really excited about finally
pool safety laws in the wake of unveiling designs for the new Life Centre. This has been a long time in the planning and we are thrilled to see
18 child drownings in private the vision becoming a reality. The design team has a wealth of experience and has worked closely with lots of
pools in the past three years. A different focus groups to ensure that the Life Centre meets the leisure needs of the whole community.
safety task force has
recommended pool fence rules
be adopted across the state with
tougher rules on above-ground
Chlorine gas leak close to a disaster
and portable pools, and
mandatory pool inspections Firefighters tackling a the gas involved. throat and nose irritation.
before a property is sold or dangerous gas leak at Coseley West Midlands Fire Service “A number of the casualties
leased. However, it stopped Swimming Pool in Birmingham Commander Bob Deeks said: had come out of the building
short of recommending a which left nearly 50 people “There was an issue with in their swimming costumes.
compulsory regular inspection needing medical treatment chlorine gas. We were about 20 They were given thermal
programme. said they were “20 minutes” minutes away from a much more blankets to keep warm.
away from a major disaster. serious incident. We would have “A further 16 were treated
A total of 48 people, many been looking at serious sickness, and discharged at the scene
Brockwell Lido wins of them children, were left not just itchy eyes and runny by the doctors. Approximately
award with watering eyes, breathing noses. The staff at the pool did a half were kept at the scene
Brockwell Lido has won a Civic difficulties and throat irritation great job getting everybody out until their parents could come
Trust Award following the after the chlorine gas leak. when they did.” and collect them.”
refurbishment of the Grade II The swimmers, aged from Assistant Chief Ambulance People living within 400m of
listed building in 2007. Civic Trust eight to 26 and many of them Officer, Daniel Gore, who led the the swimming pool were also
Awards are awarded to buildings still in their swimming ambulance service response, said: advised to keep all windows
that are architecturally advanced, costumes, were treated in “There appears to have been a and doors closed while the
exciting, innovative or striking. local hospitals. release of a chlorine based incident was being dealt with.
However, the awards also All were later believed to chemical at the swimming pool. Dudley Council previously
recognise that the buildings have been released. Today, as “We have treated a total of 48 agreed to close the pool in
should benefit their local health and safety experts people; many of them were the summer after recent
community. The refurbishment of probed the leak, firefighters children, one of whom was as safety checks showed repairs
Brockwell Lido, undertaken by revealed they had used young as eight. They were to the building, which first
Alliance Leisure, included a new equipment designed for displaying symptoms of watering opened in 1963, would cost in
1,672sq m health and fitness suite terrorism incidents to identify eyes, difficulty in breathing and excess of £2m.
featuring 100 stations, three
studios and a spa area, changing
facilities and reception area and
was part of a £3m redevelopment.
A new café area is currently under
DOZEN AFFECTED BY SECOND LEAK
construction. The building, was A dozen people including seven children recovered after needing hospital treatment for breathing problems
part funded by Alliance Leisure and skin irritations when fumes swept through a Midlands swimming pool.
and English Heritage and was Three adults, aged between 20 and 50, and three children under the age of eight, were taken by
covered by 106 planning ambulance to Stafford Hospital for respiratory difficulties and itchiness of the eyes and nose. Two adults in
conditions to ensure the integrity their 30s and 40s and four children under 12 were taken to Walsall Manor Hospital for similar complaints
of the old building was kept. following the leak of a harmful chlorine gas inside the swimming pool at Nuffield Health Fitness and
Wellbeing Centre in Hednesford. The incident is being investigated.
Visit our website at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk JUNE 09 swimming pool news 9
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