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Area Summaries   Allerdale, Ards, Babergh, Berwick, Broxbourne, Cambourne, Castle Morpeth, Cheltenham, Dartford, Daventry, DeepingDidcot, DunmowDunstable, Ealing, Easington, East Northant's, Ely, Flitwick, Flintshire, Fowey, Grantham, Great YarmouthHackney, Harpenden, Harrow, Holme Pierrepont Hungerford, Kerrier, LambethLee Valley, Lewisham, Lilleshall, Maldon, Milton Keynes, Mole Valley, North KestevenOadbyPenwith, SleafordSouth Bedfordshire, South KestevenSouth Norfolk, SpaldingSt AlbansStansted, Stoke Mandevile,  Swale, Three Rivers, Tunbridge Wells, Uttlesford, West DevonWest Berkshire, West LindseyWokinghamWorcester, WycombeWymondham

   

 ..              

  

Looking at standards and raising the game since
 March 2004

   



Leisure Connection Watch

                         Last updated : 21 November 2009 

Incorporating Harpers Health & Fitness

and other LC brands 

Camp Energy  ~  Aqua Action Swim School 

~ Venue Connect  ~  Party Animals  ~  Planet Action.               


Downloads from Other Sites

World Health Organisation:
Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments

Fitness Industry Association:  Code of Practice


Office of Fair Trading:  Guidance on Unfair Terms in Health and Fitness Club Agreements
 

Department of Health:  Exercise Referral Systems: A National Quality Assurance Framework 

Contacting LCW        Publicising LCW         How To Complain about Your Leisure Service        Tips on Searching the Web 

The Leisure Connection Dossier - Issue 6 

With so much information about LC on this website it can be time consuming finding the leading items. Now you can download a Word document with key reports about LC. The dossier refers to Audit Commission, council and media sources. Items are listed under headings that include Problems with Council Contracts, Health & Safety, Cleaning & Hygiene, Maintenance, Staffing,  Price Increases, and User Contract Issues.  The current version is  Issue 6, published 24.12.08. 

   Index for Headings from January 2008 till now  Headings from 2007  Headings from 2006    Headings from 2004 to 2005 

 Dates on left are when items were added to LCW.    Dates on right are when reports first appeared.     30.1.09 

21.11.09 Grantham - Journal exposes Meres Leisure Centre - "filthy, smelly, vile, unruly dive'  20.11.09 

"READERS are fed up to the back teeth with conditions at Grantham's Meres Leisure Centre. They say it's filthy, smelly and overrun with unruly kids. So the Journal went undercover to find out the truth - and showed the evidence to leisure centre bosses. Over the past five weeks, the Journal has gone at varying times three times a week armed with a camera and notebook to record its findings.

"We found a litter-strewn changing room, mouldy shower heads and teenage yobs running riot. The stench of urine in the changing room was sometimes overwhelming, the pool temperatures felt cold and the jacuzzi and adjoining splash pool were open only once..."


21.11.09 Brent - Council and Harpers / LC disagree on start date for refurbishment 21.11.09

6.9.09  Castle Morpeth - Charged almost £200 by Harpers Fitness despite leaving two years ago 11.10.09

27.8.09 Harrow - 3 Damning Health & Safety Audits in 4 Years 2007

A 2007 report listing major failures in basic H&S at a Harrow centre operated by LC has come to light. As well as the reports from 2005 and 2009, and 2008 police criticisms of the company, the 2007 report refers to an earlier H&S prosecution. Among the horrors discovered in 2007 were: insufficient staff, including lifeguards; missing duty managers; national procedures that did not work locally: dirty kitchen; unsupervised children’s area; and “The standard of cleanliness is poor; that coupled with a low standard of maintenance makes the place seem drab and unhygienic.” 

“The operations manager had been on a pool management course but appeared to be unclear about the significance of the pool readings. At times the pool readings were outside safe operations parameters but these were not picked up or dosing etc adjusted to bring these back in line. Readings had been filled in but it is questionable whether all were actual readings or assumed. On some shifts, readings had been missed completely."

27.8.09  27.8.09
23.8.09 Milton Keynes - Council to terminate LC Contracts 21.7.09
7.7.09 Harrow - "Leisure Centre Slammed for H&S Risks" 22.7.09

“The kitchen for public hire was extremely dirty and ill-kept There were also clear breaches of food hygiene rules and codes of good practice… dirty sinks and toilets, week-old layers of oil and fat on kitchen cookers, broken fire doors… no written safety procedures are in place for receiving deliveries of chemicals for the swimming pool … tests on the level of chemicals in the pool were at times outside safe levels and at other times missing completely."

15.7.09 Berwick - Developments after LC pulled out at short notice 15.7.09
7.7.09 Leisure Contractors' List Three Years Out of Date  7.7.09

The Leisure Management Contractors' Association website has a summary of member contracts that is now three years old. Even when it first apeared in July 2006 it was inaccurate, as LC had  stopped working in some of the centres listed under their name.  

This hopelessly out of date information would seen to contradict LMCA first objective "To promote at all times a professional image for the leisure industry."
How hard would it be to update this list once a year?

11.6.09 Milton Keynes Council and LC go to Court 5.6.09
According to the website of Mer Majesty's Court Sevice, in front of the Administrative Court in London on Friday 5 June was "FOR HEARING Appeal by way of Case Stated CO/7034/2008 Milton Keynes Council v Leisure Connection Limited". If anyone knows what the spat is about, do let LCW know.
3.6.09 Maldon - Cricketers Stumped By LC Charges 3.6.09
3.6.09  Windscale to Sellafield? What's behind the new focus given to Harpers? 3.6.09

Is it just me or do you get the feeling that the Leisure Connection brand is being downplayed and Harpers Fitness being pushed harder? Go to www.leisureconnection.co.uk and Harpers features at the top of the home page. Click on "Leisure Sport and Fitness" and you arrive at http://www.harpersfitness.co.uk/  Don’t bother looking for centres at the old website; all the LC venues are now at Harpers – not that the old homepage tells you this.

What could have prompted these changes? In the nuclear and other industries, disaster management is often a factor in rebranding. Is LC bracing itself for an even more serious dent to its public image? PB

9.5.09  Harpers - Two Customers ShareTheir Disappointed Experiences Sept 08 & Jan 09
17.4.09 Spalding - Will swim pool be any cleaner?  14.4.09
13.4.09 Oadby - Hope at last for residents disturbed by noise from LC Venue 10.4.09  
10.4.09 Harrow -  Allegations of filthy changing rooms 17.1.09
7.4.09 Spalding - Central government free swimming leads to new charges  7.4.09
20.3.09  Brent - Lifeguarding Improvements  20.3.09
28.2.09  LC finally has new Chief Executive  24.2.09

Six weeks after LCW reported that Graham Farrant was leaving, the Danoptra website announced Richard Millman, its Group Strategy Direct would take over. As of 28 February there is no announcement on LC's website of the departure of CE or replacement. Danoptra owns LC. 
28.2.09 Harrow -  "Chemical Incident" shuts Leisure Centre  27.2.09
11.2.09 Cambourne - LC's "promise" of new centre in 2008 delayed yet further - now 2010?  11.2.09
9.2.09 Spalding - pool changing area 'filthy and mouldy'  5.2.09

30.1.09 St Albans - "Out-of-order lift sinks disabled Ken's pool visits" 30.1.09

30.1.09 Stoke Mandeville - "Faulty equipment bars disabled swimmers from the home of Paralympics"  29.1.09

11.1.09 Anger as Pool Restricts Voucher Swimming  5.1.09
11.1.09  LC Loses Another Chief Executive  5.1.09
24.12.08 Issue 6 of Leisure Connection Dossier now available 24.12.08
2.12.08  Harrow -  Councillor concerned that leisure car park  "will remain a hot bed of crime and disorder"  1.12.08
26.11.08  Harrow -   Police lambast LC after continuing problems 26.11.08

POLICE had to shut down one of the largest entertainment venue in Harrow amid fears the management had lost control.... after a fight involving up to 50 young people broke out inside the hall during the event. ...Sergeant Carl Davis...said Byron Hall and the adjoining Harrow Leisure Centre has a “consistent problem with crime and disorder”, and pointed the finger squarely at Leisure Connection for not doing enough to tackle the problem. He added managers have “stalled, dithered, dawdled, and smoke-screened” over a number of years to avoid putting in adequate security measures, such as CCTV alarm systems, and employing enough bouncers, as requested by the police.

24.11.08 November 2008
22.11.08 Brent - "Dangerous chemicals closed down pool" 20.11.08
7.11.08  Dunstable - Public protest against LC's takeover of play area 6.11.08
6.11.08  Harrow -   LC's management of centre under fire 6.11.08

Residents are calling for a change of management after problems at Harrow Leisure Centre... complaints ranging from poor maintenance to lack of security...

Harrow Council ...  said the building is in a state of disrepair but wanted to replace it, a project scrapped when funding fell through... ...a swimmer at the centre said they should develop rather than scaring people off. "I'd like to see them replace the current contractors with people who would get the place up and running like they should.” 

The Councillor responsible said he knew there were problems. “They've got a contract for two more years and if I terminate that contract before then I will need money to buy them out....  I'm not going to spend a lot of money to buy them out of an old building.”  He said his department  told Leisure Connection that the council is not responsible for its staffing problems and the company itself must solve them.

5.11.08  Brent -  Council email reveals that mutiple failings led to chlorine incident April 2008

 “The (monitoring) sheets used by Vale Farm are not fit for purpose “ “…no audit programme of how staff are performing the tasks…”  Testing tablets had no expiry date. Manufacturer not contacted after failure.  “What happens to these reports was my next question. Again blank faces. It seems no one apart from the head office sees these reports.”  “…no one had actually read the (health improvement) notice to see what it entailed…” “The gradual rise (in chlorine readings) should have been observed. Because of some of the above failures this did not take place. At this point I stated that for all I know these figures could just be made up. This might be a strong possibility.”

4.11.08 Cambourne - Opening of new centre now 14 months later than first announced 04.11.08
4.11.08 Oadby -  Residents 17 year battle to reduce noise of social events at leisure centre  21.8.08
23.10.08 Harrow -  Police lash out at LC's lack of security  23.10.08

Sergeant Davis wrote: “It has consistenly been apparent that the premises attracted criminality. The management of this premises by the licence holders has ensured the failure to take appropriate steps to prevent crime and disorder, prevent public nuisance, promote public safety and failed to promote the objectives of the protection of children from harm.”
21.10.08 South Holland -  Survey finds LC's leisure contract "flawed"  August 2007
10.10.08 Maldon - Recordings of Drowning Emergency Calls Removed from Web  10.10.08
3.10.08 St Albans - LC ban on snorkels challenged 2.10.08 
28.9.08 Spalding - After more complaints further LC promises to improve  24.7.07 
21.9.08 Oadby & Wigston - Back to basics review by LC after Council notes complaints  12.5.08 
18.9.08  Stoke Mandeville - Stadium criticised for 'run-down' facilities - no repairs after a year of promises 18.9.08
12.9.08  Wokingham - Public not warned of spate of thefts from lockers 12.9.08
12.9.08 Lee Valley -  Users angry as pool closes 3 weeks early due to lack of staff 11.9.08
4.9.08  Maldon - Parents Allege Failures and Sue LC Following Drowning  28.8.08
16.8.08  Brent - Penalities for 8 Willesden PFI Contract Defaults  May 2008
15.8.08   Pooling Resources Campaign Group  -  link to external site
14.8.08  ‘Wokingham - 'Guards didn’t see my boy in swim trouble’ 14.8.08
13.8.08  Brent - H&S Improvement Notice for excessive solids in pool  March - July 2008

             plus Repeated litter on pool floor, Third set of vanity units fail, & Lifeguarding lapses
13.8.08  Harrow - Policed warning after Leisure centre Thefts 24.3..08
13.8.08 Leisure Management Contractors' Association List of Contracts Two Years Out of Date 13.8.08
8.8.08  Maldon - Private Eye on Council Investigation Plus LCW Updates 7.8.08
16.7.08 Lee Valley -  "Bad news for pool, good news for PR"  7.8.08
6.7.08  Danoptra, owner of LC, close to a deal to acquire pubs division of rival - external link 6.7.08
3.7.08   How many lifeguards does a pool need? - HSE Guidance 2003
1.7.08  Maldon - Council to Inquire into Drowning Despite Concerns about Conflict of Interest 27.6.08
26.6.08  Maldon -  What is happening to the enquiry into drowning asks local  26.6.08
24.6.08 Oadby & Wigston - Audit Commission reports satisfaction with leisure among lowest in country March 2008
24.6.08 St Albans - Shortage of  Lifeguards Limits Swimming Sessions 19.6.08
23.6.08  Maldon - More Comments on Lifeguarding in Maldon 23.6.08
19.6.08 Are the lessons from other pool drownings being learned? 19.6.08
19.6.08  Maldon - Claims that pool was not busy and Michelle first spotted by a young swimmer 19.6.08
19.6.07 Maldon - Father of Drowned Girl Claims First Ambulance was Cancelled 18.6.08
16.6.08  LC sold to Swiss led consortium 6.6.08
15.6.08 Maldon - "Lifeguards fail to save girl, 7, from drowning" 15.6.08
20.5.08 Brent - EH find Kids' Pool had 17x Too Much Chlorine 24.4.08
12.5.08  Ely - A Doctor Writes about  Poor Cleaning and Management 17.4.08
25.4.08  Lee Valley - Paper reports pool looks set to close 24.4.05
14.4.08 LC Owner for Sale - LC and other interests have "struggled" says Sunday Times 13.4.08
02.4.08 Advertising Standards Authority slams LC's science but dubious claims continue 2.4.08
02.3.08 South Beds - Cleaning and Staffing Issues Listed in Council Report  28.2.08
02.3.08 Grantham - "Intimidating call" allegation and other issues  29.2.08
20.2.08  St Albans - PR Disaster as Newspaper Calls Bluff on "Ultimatum"   20.2.08 
18.2.08  Lee Valley - Local paper identifies "A catalogue of concerns" 15.2.07  

The Concerns include cleanliness, no evidence of safety checks,  staffing and training worries raised "consistently", high levels of bacteria, excessive chlorine, and pool water testing equipment in "very poor condition".

15.2.08 Brent - Maintenance including a year without replacement for sink unit 
15.2.08 Harrow - LC backed leisure centre plans attacked by Sport England and Sports Council Feb 2008
11.2.08  Deepings - "Girls getting changed in the dark" but no longer "dangerous"  11.2.08 
11.2.08  Same issues but new PR Company for LC  24.1.08 
11.2.08  Wake up and smell the snake oil  21.1.2.0

Headings from 2007      Headings from 2006     Headings from 2004 to 2005 


 How you can help LCW

Send information and copies of complaints. I am interested in any information that relates to the performance of LC.  For details see Contacting LCW. 

Publicising LCW

Want to help  to publicise the website? Check if your local media, Council leisure officers and councillors are aware of it.

Make it known to leisure centre users, sports clubs and local area websites. You can either:

Copy and paste  Leisure Connection Watch onto other website pages and add to html emails   or

For plain text emails, newsletters etc. copy and paste: You can find "Leisure Connection Watch" by entering those words into Google.

Thanks to Contributors

Thanks for the encouragement and items sent to me by dozens of people concerned about the standards of LC. I also appreciate the people who have pointed out  typos and faulty links. If you want your name listed here as a contributor, please specifically authorise this. 

Donations

Until 2006 no donations were sought as the current website comes as part of my ISP package and it doesn't feel like a "cost". More recently I have incurred expenses with some councils when making Freedom of Information requests.  If you wish to send money, please make clear that you have no business or employment links to any LC competitor and specify what, if any, publicity I might give to your support. 

With sufficient, independent  funding I happily would set up a "Leisure Watch" website, reporting issues on all leisure providers. While my time is unpaid my focus will remain on LC and others who may be dissatisfied with their local contractors will need to run their own campaigns.

Thanks to Neil Hutchinson for his financial support of LCW.

Paul Burns                                        Top