Ealing see also Ealing Freedom of Information Page and Acton Pool
£1.8million refit for leisure centre 8.12.06 Ealing Times by Benedict Moore Bridger Reproduced in Full http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1063413.0.1_8million_refit_for_leisure_centre.php
"SIGNIFICANT improvements" to revitalise and modernise Gurnell Leisure Centre in Ealing are to start later this month.
The news comes after Leisure Connection - the company which previously ran four leisure centres in Ealing - lost their contract in August, having been dogged with complaints about levels of cleanliness at the facilities.
Since taking over on November 1 after Leisure Connection's contract finally expired, new council partners Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) have pledged to pour £1.8million into the facility over the next two years.
One Ealing resident who uses Gurnell leisure centre twice a week, was thrilled with the news."It is fantastic," she said.
"Since Leisure Connection lost the contract they did not bother doing anything.
Machines were lying broken in the gym all summer because they knew they were not going to bother mending them. It was obviously a really easy job to do because they have all been mended this week."
GLL will also take over the running of Acton Swimming Baths, Dormers Wells leisure centre and, for a short time, Northolt
Swimarama. Mark Sesnan, managing director of GLL, said: "We are proud to be implementing these changes, which will bring Gurnell Leisure Centre up to modern standards. We have been working with our customers to understand their needs and will keep them updated on the refurbishment as it progresses."
"We believe our experience - the GLL currently operates more than 50 public leisure centres across Greater London - coupled with our status as a not for profit' social enterprise, means we have both the operational skills and community focus that will enable us to successfully operate a range of facilities across the borough."
The new contract will ensure stringent measures are in place to monitor and address poor performance, and ensure quicker response to day-to-day maintenance issues.
It also provides protection on hours of use for the long-standing clubs that use the facilities.
At Gurnell from early December the entire first floor will be refurbished to include a new fitness centre, complete with new changing rooms, a new reception area, a refurbished studio and a cafe.
The work will be carried out in stages to minimise disruption to customers.
Cllr Nigel Sumner, cabinet member for health and community well being, said: "I am delighted that our new partners Greenwich Leisure Limited have been able to start their improvement works so quickly since their contract began in November.
Gurnell Leisure Centre is an important facility to this borough and it is well used by our residents. The refurbishment will revitalise and modernise it so that it is better suited to their needs."
Residents who are interested in viewing the refurbishment plans are invited to do so at the facility. For more information people should contact Gareth Kirk (lead manager) via email gareth.kirk@gll.org or ring 020 8998 3241
Gurnell Parents Petition 20.6.06
A council report on "Service
Standards at Gurnell Leisure Centre" for a meeting on 3.10.06 states "During summer 2006 issues arose which called into question the quality of service being provided at Gurnell Leisure Centre. A petition signed by 187 people, dated 20th June 2006 was received by Active Ealing on 25th July 2006."
The text of the petition was inserted into the report, thus:
The Council report asserts that press references linked to the petition about
condoms and faeces were misleading. www.ealing.gov.uk/.../03.10.06/
From chiswickw4.com 19.6.05 http://www.chiswickw4.com/?section=leisure&link=http://nnet-server.com/server/common/consport11.htm
Reproduced in full
Temporary closures made due to lack of funding for maintenance
The closure of the Acton Swimming baths this week after staff ran out of chlorine has led to renewed concerns that the historic baths will eventually be forced to close through lack of funding and
maintenance. Plans to close the Acton baths and replace it with a new facility have been in the public domain for some time now, but the Council have admitted that they are £3.7 million short of capital to fund the new pool.
Conservative spokesman on Leisure, Cllr Sue Emment said “We support building a new pool in Acton, but with a large funding shortfall and question marks over a site the new facility is many years off. What we don’t want to see is Labour using the promise of a new facility as an excuse to let the Acton Swimming baths wither and die before an alternative is built.
Paul Hyman, Head of Active Ealing, responded to these concerns by stating “The pools strategy is a long-term plan aimed at addressing the need for new pools across the Borough of Ealing. A feasibility study will be undertaken into the proposal for a new 50m pool in Acton and an important part of this study will be investigating how to fund it.”
He went on to assure that “It is the Council's intention for the existing pool in Acton to remain open until a new pool is rebuilt. The council will continue to oversee the current management contract and monitor standards to ensure they are maintained.”
Leisure Connection, the company currently responsible for the management of Acton Pool, reopened the baths on Wednesday morning. A spokesperson for the company said “The health and safety of our customers is of paramount importance to us and we took the correct course of action by closing for a short time while a stock of chemicals was delivered from another leisure facility within the area.”
Paul Hyman concluded "We have spent more than £600,000 on improving the pool and keeping it open over the past five years. We want a good return for the community on this investment and intend to keep the Baths open until we have built the proposed new pool. There have recently been operational problems at the pool and we will be working closely with Leisure Connection to ensure that they are resolved."
From MINUTES OF EALING COUNCIL MEETING 21.6.05 http://www.ealing.gov.uk/council/committees/council/17may2005-22may2006/minutesofcouncilmeeting21june05.doc
Councillor Mrs Emment
asked the cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Sport the following question:
“Would the portfolio holder for Leisure agree with me that it is unacceptable
to have to close Acton Swimming Pool due to mismanagement resulting in the pool
running out of chlorine and also staff shortages?”
The cabinet member stated that it was unacceptable
for the leisure contractor to close the facility at any time unless prior
permission was granted by the contract supervisor.
As a result of two recent
unplanned closures, Leisure Connection have been issued default notices and also
incurred financial penalties.