St Albans

30.1.09 Herts Advertiser Out-of-order lift sinks disabled Ken's pool visits http://snipurl.com/b08mb Reproduced in full

GRANDAD Ken Davies would love to benefit from the ups and downs of a disabled lift at a St Albans sports centre instead of being left complaining about it. Ken, aged 64, is missing half a lung and has spinal problems so he is registered disabled even though he does not have a wheelchair. He is frequent visitor to Westminster Lodge to watch his grandson train with St Albans Diving Club - but he has yet to find the disabled lift working and is forced to watch from the poolside.

Having been told that the lift was finally working, he went along last Friday to see his grandson take part in a competition, only to find it was once again out of order. To add insult to injury, he was told that he could not go poolside to watch the competition even though he has been doing so for months. Ken, who lives in Hemel Hempstead, said the disabled life was very old fashioned and described it as like a bit of scaffolding bolted on a trap.

He went on: "Last Friday I said could I have a chair to use the disabled lift and they said it is broken again. I said that's ridiculous and commonsense is not prevailing. All I want is access to watch my grandson dive and this is plainly silly."

When Ken said he supposed he would have to sit poolside again, he was told that they wouldn't allow it. "I said I have been doing it for the past 12 months almost to the day. You won't allow me to see my grandson when a precedent has been set."

Eventually he was allowed to watch the diving poolside but is angry that the lift is never working. "To get to the viewing area is a 12ft to 13ft row of steep steps. I think this is contrary to the Disability Rights Act.

"One of the reasons I don't go every week is that I can't go through that arguing the toss all the time."

A spokesperson for Leisure Connection, which runs Westminster Lodge on behalf of the district council, said they were aware of the issues with the disabled access which they took very seriously. She went on: "The maintenance contractors have been called out three times in the past four months and we continue to work with them to ensure that these issues are resolved. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our disabled users and would like to assure our customers that we are looking at a long-term solution to permanently fix the lift or indeed replace it.

A man who has to wear a snorkel to swim lengths in his local pool has been banned from doing so over health and safety concerns. Matt Bower, 36, says he wears the snorkel because he struggles to get his head above water to breathe, straining his neck and back in the process. But the company that runs Westminster Lodge swimming pool in St Albans, Hertfordshire, claims that snorkels prevent lifeguards from being able to tell if a swimmer is in trouble.

When Mr Bower first turned up to swim with a mask and snorkel last month, he was told he could not wear it and was ordered out of the pool. He returned a couple of days later, having purchased goggles to wear with his snorkel. Pool staff took issue with his snorkel this time, and sent Mr Bower away again, citing a permanent ban on all such equipment.

The marketing executive, who took up swimming along with his girlfriend in a bid to recover from a knee injury, branded the ban "bonkers". He said: "I'm not the best swimmer and struggle getting my head above water to breathe so I'm far safer with the snorkel. I've been swimming like this for more than 30 years now - in pools and at sea. Young kids buy snorkels from shops on the sea front. Using them is not rocket science and I'm a grown, responsible man. The company is clearly worried about the culture of suing and ignoring common sense."

A spokeswoman for Leisure Connection - which runs the pool on behalf of the local council - said the ban was put in place a number of years ago across all of its 70 pools in the UK. She explained: "It is our belief that snorkelers are less visible to our lifeguards who may struggle to spot if they get into any trouble."

However, the company has now pledged to seek advice and review their ban after Mr Bower's complaint.

SIR, - I was interested to read Mr Phil van Tromp's letter (Herts Advertiser, June 12) about the state of our swimming facilities in the light of the Government's initiative to provide free swimming for all....

Once again I contacted Leisure Connection for an explanation. They assured me that they had been told by the council that the 50-plus were a "protected group" and that they were not able to change the cost of a swim for them. On April 14, 2007, I wrote to Portfolio Holder Cllr Burton and pointed out that by not increasing the cost of our swim by 3.5 per cent, as had happened to all other groups, and by then not giving us the chance of a 20 per cent discount for pre-paid swims, we were the losers yet again. I asked for an explanation of how one could possibly be "protected" against a discount. She did not reply and my second letter, sent in July 2007, is also still waiting for an answer.

Now we have another problem with our swimming at Townsend pool. There is a shortage of lifeguards so the times at which we can swim have been reduced to two sessions a week, one of which is for ladies only. Since the organisation of our swimming has come under Bricket Wood Sports Centre and not London Colney, we have no communication from Leisure Connection at all and often turn up for a swim to find that the pool is closed because there are not enough lifeguards.

No doubt eventually someone will look at the number of swimmers using Townsend pool and declare that it is under-used and therefore not viable....

JUNE TIDMARSH, The Ridgeway, St Albans.

SIR, - Since retirement six years ago I have been a regular user of the seniors twice-weekly sessions at Westminster Lodge, St Albans. In recent weeks, since the increase in prices imposed by Leisure Connection and St Albans District Council, I have seen attendance of senior citizens fall dramatically. My leisure card has now expired and I made my final visit last week.

Twenty-four-million people in this country are considered to be overweight or clinically obese. The Government may make ballroom dancing available on the NHS to encourage fitness. The Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, has suggested that people who do not follow a healthy life style may be delayed in obtaining treatment on the NHS. Only last week, a European report identified this country as the "fat people of Europe".

It is inconceivable that in this climate, Leisure Connection and St Albans District Council should introduce a pricing policy that discriminates against senior citizens and prevents them attending Westminster Lodge at a reasonable cost.

TERRY JACKSON

THE annual St Albans pancake race cooked up a storm this year when the first team over the line was disqualified. Tuesday's race outside the Town Hall resulted in the St Albans Arts, Sports and Health team from Leisure Connection being stripped of the title for not stopping while tossing their pancakes.

First place was handed to the council's Environmental Health Department team who had been runners-up. The Abbey clergy, winners for the last two years, made it to the final heat but lost out to the eventual winners.

A crowd of about 300 gathered to watch the competitors on the concourse in damp and slippery conditions, running and stopping at designated spots to toss and catch their pancakes. Sixteen teams of four competed fiercely for the first prize - a frying pan engraved with the names of the previous victors presented by the Mayor, Cllr Alison Steer.

This year a relay race was favoured over the usual course to minimise the risk of injury, so participants did not have to make a turn on the wet ground. The course was also moved to give the competitors more space.

St Albans tourism and regeneration manager Charles Baker said: "It was wonderful to have so many teams taking part and to see such a large crowd supporting what is now an important event in the city's calendar."

He added: "The pancake race is about upholding tradition and English culture.

April 1 Promise of OAP Swim-fee Cuts Herts Advertiser 8.2.07 Reproduced in full http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/news/story.aspx?brand=HADOnline&category=News&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newshadnew&itemid=WEED08%20Feb%202007%2013%3A19%3A11%3A217

ANGRY pensioner Pippa McNickle went off the deep end after her weekly swim at the Westminster Lodge pool on Friday. Mrs McNickle, aged 63, of Folly Avenue, St Albans, said she and her fellow swimmers were denied access to half the pool which was roped off. She said: "When I asked why only half of the lanes were open, I was told it was because only one lifeguard would be needed Not only has the price for a pensioner been doubled for each swim in a dirty, severely-neglected pool but now we are being herded together up one end in cramped surroundings."

Mrs McNickle, a regular swimmer at Westminster Lodge since 1968, said: "I used to bring my children, then my grandchildren here. Since I retired after working 40 years as a nurse I have arthritic hips and shoulders which I attempt to keep moving by swimming once a week. If I could afford it I would use one of the private pools but I've paid rates here since 1968 and feel I should be able to go for a swim in comfort."

Pool manager Denise Enright denied that there was only one lifeguard present on Friday and said she was unaware of any problem on the day in question. She maintained that several swimmers had commented on the improved cleanliness at the pool.

Under new rules introduced at St Albans District Council swimming pools, pensioners no longer get a 50 per cent discount off the price of a swim. This put the cost up from £11.20 to £22.40 for 10 swims. The cost went up to £2.80 a visit for pay-as-you-go.

There was some good news this week for pensioners like Mrs McNickle who are not in receipt of benefits and do not qualify for discounts. Following several complaints publicised in the Herts Advertiser, the council's Sport and Healthy Living Portfolio Holder, Councillor Sheila Burton, has taken up the case of the disgruntled pensioners. After a meeting on Monday afternoon to review pensioners' swimming costs, Cllr Burton said she had won a concession from Leisure Connection, the company which runs the council's leisure services. She said: "From April 1 all residents over the age of 60 can sign up for a free Leisure Card which will entitle them to buy a book of 10 swim tickets for £16.80 valid for three months."

Cllr Burton stressed that council officers monitored conditions at sports facilities and took money from Leisure Connection if necessary. She said: "I understood that better cleaning arrangements had been put in place but if the pool's standards of cleanliness are still faulty, action will also be taken to remedy them.

Relief at last for park users who need the loo 1.2.07 Herts Advertiser Reproduced in Full
http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/news/story.aspx?brand=HADOnline&category=News&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newshadnew&itemid=WEED01%20Feb%202007%2012%3A21%3A02%3A340

SPENDING a penny could get easier for visitors to a Harpenden park. After years of campaigning in the town, St Albans District Council is to talk to service providers Leisure Connection about making toilets in the sports centre available to users of Rothamsted Park.

Sport and Healthy Living Portfolio Holder Cllr Sheila Burton said the company already had an informal agreement with the council that park users could visit the toilets but agreed that it should be formalised. She was speaking in a debate on a proposal from Cllr Julian Daly calling for the council's cabinet to consider making money available in next year's budget to provide toilets in the park.

Cllr Daly said: "We have been trying for years to get this into the budget but it has continually been kicked into the long grass. Rothamsted Park is extremely well used and there is a need for public toilet facilities." He maintained that staff at the leisure centre clearly did not know about the informal agreement because he had been turned away when in the park with his children. But he added: "I agree that it would be better to have toilets available in a controlled environment such as the leisure centre rather than a stand-alone facility."

Cllr Paul Foster also felt there was a pressing need for toilet facilities in the park but was not in favour of a new building to provide the facility. After the meeting Cllr Burton said the proposal was that a disabled toilet which was directly inside the entrance to the sports centre should be made available to visitors to the park. It would be under the control of people on the reception desk and they would let one person through at a time.

Cllr Daly said: "This is not exactly what I had in mind but it is better than nothing, although we will have to see how it works out.

The company which runs leisure services in the district has been blamed for price increases which have more than doubled the cost of swimming for pensioners.
Following a spate of complaints about the increase, St Albans District Council's Sport and Healthy Living portfolio holder, Cllr Sheila Burton, said prices for pensioners were controlled by Leisure Connection. She added that under the new leisure contract signed earlier this year between the council and the company, the only concessions the council had insisted upon were for under-18s, students, people on benefit and elite sportsmen and women. She said: "The prices Leisure Connection charge are now a commercial matter and I am sure that if they find the facilities are not being used they will do something about it."

Cllr Burton's comments followed a claim from a former district councillor that some pensioners had faced a double whammy over the increase in the cost of swimming. Kathleen Moody said those who swam at the Bricket Wood pool had not only lost their pensioners' discount but had also seen an increase in the basic price. She explained that the charge for swimming had first been increased to bring sessions in line with the price at Westminster Lodge and then the pensioner's discount had been removed which put the price of a 10-swim card up from £7.50 to £22.40.

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Mrs Moody, who swims regularly with her husband Brian, said: "Like many other pensioners we have been recommended to swim by our doctor because we both have artificial joints. There used to be quite a community of us who had a regular early-morning swim at Bricket Wood and the pool was always busy but since the increases in charges it is almost empty." Mrs Moody also challenged claims by Cllr Burton that pensioners who signed up to the swimmer's direct debit scheme would find they were paying roughly the same as they were before the changes were introduced if they swam three or more times a week.

She said: "The direct debit scheme has a set-up charge of £35 and a monthly debit of £16 so in fact you need to swim five times a week every week of the year to get back to the original cost and the problem is that this does not allow for holidays and sickness. If you stop your direct debit for a month you have to pay a new set-up fee."

Council leader Cllr Robert Donald said he would welcome a review of the charges for pensioners and urged Leisure Connection to look at the problem. No-one from Leisure Connection was available for comment at time of going to press. How many times have I read that no one from LC, the UK's largest leisure contractor, is available to comment on bad publicity? PB

No re-think on leisure scheme Herts Advertiser 7.12.06 Reproduced in full http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/news/story.aspx?brand=HADOnline&category=News&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newshadnew&itemid=WEED07%20Dec%202006%2012%3A11%3A09%3A330

ANGRY councillors have failed in a bid to get a decision to build a new £1-million leisure centre in St Albans reconsidered. The go-ahead for the complex at Westminster Lodge was taken by the district council's Liberal Democrat-controlled cabinet. But the project would come at the expense of the London Colney and Bricket Wood leisure centres which would close when new facilities were available. However a new indoor facility would be built in Cotlandswick, London Colney.

It will also mean the loss of the Bricket Wood swimming pool, and the 33-metre pool at Westminster Lodge will be replaced by a 25-metre one. Labour and Conservative councillors have attacked the proposals and called on the cabinet to reconsider its decision. Leading the criticism, Cllr Malcolm MacMillan said: "The proposals for leisure are more about hardship than flagship. They will mean a loss of halls for recreation and less water space for swimming." He also claimed that a sell-off of council-owned land, including green community spaces, would be needed to raise cash to fund the project. He maintained that potential private funding had been lost because of a lack of clarity over the council's relationship with Leisure Connection, the company which currently runs the council's leisure services.

Former leisure portfolio holder, Cllr John Newman, who now sits as an independent member, said: "This cabinet has produced a sad little scheme which is not adequately funded. What is missing here is the strength to drive forward a major project. The two major projects this cabinet has worked on so far, the cinema and the leisure centre, have been completely screwed up."

Cllr Julian Daly said he was concerned that the funding identified for the scheme was only around 50 per cent of the estimated cost. He added: "Crucial to the scheme is a decision to starve the south of the district of leisure provision."

And Cllr Chris Flynn pointed out: "This is a bad decision. It comes after the council has handed out large amounts of money to renovate the swimming pool at Bricket Wood and now we are to get rid of it."

Sport and healthy living portfolio holder Cllr Sheila Burton said she was not prepared to take back the decision to cabinet. She added: "This is a flagship scheme which will not only provide better facilities for swimming, including proper competition facilities which have been welcomed by the two major swimming clubs but will also for the first time provide facilities for young people which will include space for bands and rehearsal rooms."

Resources portfolio holder Cllr Chris Oxley accused the opposition groups of trying to delay the scheme. He said: "We all want super facilities but we are not going to pursue schemes which we cannot achieve.

Counting the cost of pool closure by Alex Lewis St Albans Observer 10.11.05 Reproduced in full http://www.stalbansobserver.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.649822.0.counting_the_cost_of_pool_closure.php

The closure of Bricket Wood swimming pool for 18 months looks set to cost council tax payers' more than £50,000 in a compensation claim. Leisure Connection, which runs the pool, is blaming St Albans District Council for the entrance fees lost when the pool was shut between March 2004 and September this year.

The pool was initially closed when a glass pane broke in a gale, but the incident revealed a number of other structural problems which had to be fixed before the public could be re-admitted. The company argues this was because of poor basic maintenance, which is the council's responsibility, and last week's cabinet meeting authorised leisure boss Kevin Tighe to negotiate a settlement.

Bricket Wood parish councillor Ian Getley said: "If the maintenance had been carried out in the first place, this would not have cost so much and it certainly would not have required the pool to be closed for the time it was. If the window had been replaced earlier, then the pool would have been open in a few weeks. It was totally unacceptable, because so many people were inconvenienced."

A spokesman for the district council leisure department said: "The windows were blown in due to an act of God it was not related to poor maintenance."

Leisure Connection has been named as preferred bidder to run the council's facilities for the next ten years. But the deal has not yet been signed. A spokesman for the company said: "We are in on-going discussions with St Albans District Council about this issue."

Audit Commission Inspection Report July 2005 on St Albans Cultural Services available from www.audit-commission.gov.uk

For all cultural services, including leisure, the overall rating was "fair" or one-star out of a maximum of three. The worst satisfaction levels were among Sports and Leisure users, 47%

The reports notes that, "Performance management in the contracted leisure services is limited. The contractor has not been required to monitor usage across resident groups and the Council have no information on who is using their facilities. The Council recognise this weakness and is addressing it in the new contract but it will be a year before the Council has a baseline position. It is currently difficult for the Council to demonstrate how well the services are performing and to what extent they are meeting corporate priorities."

Under-fire leisure firm likely to retain contract by Ruth Holmes St Albans Observer 23.6.05 http://snipurl.com/fs99 Reproduced in full

THE company in charge of the district's leisure facilities looks set to be reappointed, despite a barrage of complaints about the services it currently runs. St Albans District Council's executive body will hold a meeting in July to decide whether to renew the contract with Leisure Connection but it has already earmarked the firm as the preferred bidder.

The decision, originally due to be taken in April, was delayed by members of the opposition parties, outraged by the potential renewal. At a secret meeting on Wednesday closed to members of the press and public the council's overview and scrutiny committee slammed proposals to reinstate the firm, referring the decision back to cabinet.

Conservative leader John Newman said: "St Albans is going to have the tackiest, worst facilities of anywhere around. Are these the sort of facilities a prosperous city of 32,000 inhabitants deserves?"

The debate about the deal which covers the management of the Alban Arena, Westminster Lodge, Bricket Wood Sports Centre and Batchwood Golf Course comes amid a storm of criticism from residents about existing sports and leisure services.

At a consultation meeting with residents held in May, Westminster Lodge came under fierce attack. Leisure centre users raised complaints ranging from toilets and jacuzzis not working to long queues for showers alongside concerns about general cleanliness and lack of maintenance.

The centre is set to be replaced in 2009 but there are on-going disputes over the cost of repair work expected to be carried out before the end of the current contract. Opponents of the contract renewal say these issues need to be resolved before a new one is signed and have criticised the proposed framework for failing to tie the winner into the future rebuilding project.

But Councillor Sheila Burton, portfolio holder for sports and leisure, argues that the new deal will provide better services for residents. She said: "The new contract states that each major sports centre must have an in-house cleaning team and its own maintenance person. The whole contract has been written to reflect reports from residents."

Leisure Connection said it would be inappropriate to comment about the bid at this stage.

Editorial at Herts Advertiser on 21.4.05 "Paying the price lax checks leave council in dispute over millions in leisure bills" http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/news/story.aspx?brand=HADOnline&category=News&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newshertsad&itemid=WEED21+Apr+2005+11:50:11:580

A lack of controls in the way leisure services in St Albans were handed over to a private contractor more than 10 years ago could now cost the district council dear. There is an argument between the council and its present contractors, Leisure Connection, over repairs and maintenance of sports and recreation facilities across the district.

This wrangle follows a survey by architects appointed by the council which identified that £3 million of repair work on the district's leisure facilities will need to be done now or in the future. The council is at present negotiating with Leisure Connection on a building-by-building basis in a bid to establish liability for the work.

Now strict new rules are to be put in place in a bid to avoid any future dispute between the and leisure contractors over maintenance of buildings.

For it has been revealed that no survey of the condition of the Westminster Lodge complex, which includes the swimming pool, was undertaken before the original contractors, St Albans Leisure, took over in 1994. Community Services strategic director Steve Welch said: "We are determined we will not be in this position again and in preparing for a new contract which should be in place later this year, we are introducing much stricter conditions."

He maintained the council's leisure department had also been strengthened with the appointment of extra staff to ensure that there was proper monitoring in the future. Heritage and tourism portfolio holder, Cllr Melvyn Teare, said: "I think one of the problems with the original contract was that the company which won it was basically the council's management team. And the problems have increased because of a number of takeovers over the years."

Sport and healthy living portfolio holder, Cllr Sheila Burton, added: "We are now negotiating with Leisure Connection on a facility-by-facility basis and we are making good progress."

It is estimated that the negotiations will take around three months and the Westminster Lodge swimming pool complex - which is the most contentious site - will be left until last. A decision on a preferred bidder for the new leisure contract is expected to be announced by the end of the month - despite the fact that one of the two companies shortlisted is the present operator Leisure Connection with whom the council is arguing. The other contractor in the race is DC Leisure Management

Kicking up a stink 19.5.05 from Herts Advertiser http://snipurl.com/f0y2 (reproduced in full)

SPORTS-centre users have hit out at the poor state of the facilities at Westminster Lodge. Representatives of clubs which use the St Albans sports centre and the adjoining running track were largely critical when it came to describing conditions at a special district council scrutiny committee this week.

Complaints ranged from facilities such as the toilets and jacuzzi not working to the length of time users had to queue to use the showers - only to find they didn't work properly. There were also concerns raised about the cleanliness of the sports centre and the running-track changing rooms as well as the lack of maintenance.

The meeting invited residents to come along and give their views about Westminster Lodge, Bricket Wood and London Colney sports centres.All three centres are due to be replaced - Westminster Lodge by 2009 and, in principle, Bricket Wood and London Colney by a new community facility in the south of the district.

They are currently run by Leisure Connection on behalf of the district council but the two parties are in dispute over the extent of reinstatement work to be carried out before the contract ends. Cllr Malcolm MacMillan, chairman of the scrutiny committee, admitted he was surprised at how strongly people at the meeting felt about the facilities at Westminster Lodge.

He said: "The thing which came through was the filth down there. What we said was we were not prepared to wait until 2009 to address this because it needs to be dealt with now." He added: "I had no idea that the views of the users were so strong. I had heard that there were problems in the pool ceiling and problems in the showers but I hadn't realised it was so widespread. We were getting evidence from three bodies alone representing about 700 people, especially youngsters, and damning everything about the place. The idea that we should wait more than three years for action is unthinkable."

But the council's heritage, arts and tourism portfolio holder, Cllr Melvyn Teare, who was at the meeting, said: "There were some concerns expressed by individuals but these are matters we have in hand which we have to get resolved with both the current and new leisure contractors." He said that the specification which had been drawn up for the new leisure contractors - who are due to be named shortly - specifically targeted cleaning and other performance indicators.

The portfolio holder for sport and healthy living, Cllr Sheila Burton, stressed that council officers did monitor conditions at sports facilities and took money from Leisure Connection if necessary. She added: "A lot of it is to do with the dilapidation which is part of on-going negotiations with Leisure Connection but if it's dirty and unhygienic then it needs improvement now.

21.5.05 Paying the price - lax checks leave council in dispute over millions in leisure bills
EDITORIAL from Herts. Advertiser http://snipurl.com/e84f Reproduced in full

A LACK of controls in the way leisure services in St Albans were handed over to a private contractor more than 10 years ago could now cost the district council dear. There is an argument between the council and its present contractors, Leisure Connection, over repairs and maintenance of sports and recreation facilities across the district. This wrangle follows a survey by architects appointed by the council which identified that £3 million of repair work on the district's leisure facilities will need to be done now or in the future.

The council is at present negotiating with Leisure Connection on a building-by-building basis in a bid to establish liability for the work. Now strict new rules are to be put in place in a bid to avoid any future dispute between the and leisure contractors over maintenance of buildings. For it has been revealed that no survey of the condition of the Westminster Lodge complex, which includes the swimming pool, was undertaken before the original contractors, St Albans Leisure, took over in 1994.

Community Services strategic director Steve Welch said: "We are determined we will not be in this position again and in preparing for a new contract which should be in place later this year, we are introducing much stricter conditions."

He maintained the council's leisure department had also been strengthened with the appointment of extra staff to ensure that there was proper monitoring in the future. Heritage and tourism portfolio holder, Cllr Melvyn Teare, said: "I think one of the problems with the original contract was that the company which won it was basically the council's management team. And the problems have increased because of a number of takeovers over the years."

Sport and healthy living portfolio holder, Cllr Sheila Burton, added: "We are now negotiating with Leisure Connection on a facility-by-facility basis and we are making good progress." It is estimated that the negotiations will take around three months and the Westminster Lodge swimming pool complex - which is the most contentious site - will be left until last.

A decision on a preferred bidder for the new leisure contract is expected to be announced by the end of the month - despite the fact that one of the two companies shortlisted is the present operator Leisure Connection with whom the council is arguing. The other contractor in the race is DC Leisure Management.

Going down the tubes From Herts Advertiser 3.3.05 - reproduced in full http://snipurl.com/d993

DISAPPOINTED families are looking outside the district for fun swimming facilities because of the regular closure of the Westminster Lodge Aquazooms. The flumes are understood to have been closed on Sundays on a number of occasions during the last few months when the pool would expect to be at its busiest.

The closure has been blamed on a shortage of staff to man the flumes safely. The result is that families are opting instead for facilities like Aquasplash at Leisureworld in Hemel Hempstead. One fed-up father, who has not found the Aquazooms to be open at any time during his Sunday visits in the last few months, said: "Whenever you want to do anything with the kids, you always have to take them outside the district."

The problems with the Aquazooms have arisen at the same time as Bricket Wood pool is closed, leaving the district very short of swimming facilities. A district council spokesperson said that to ensure safe use of the Aquazooms it had become necessary for Leisure Connection to close them on four occasions in the last three months.

Mum's anger at kids' pool ban Herts Advertiser 17 February 2005 http://snipurl.com/cx1b

Adult to children ratios at pools throughout the district are set to change

A SINGLE mother-of-two had a sinking feeling when she took her children for a swim at a pool in St Albans. When Jennifer Huggard, from Abbots Avenue West, arrived with her four-year-old son and 16-month-old daughter for their weekly Toddler Splash session at Westminster Lodge she was told she needed another adult with her as under fives had to be supervised on a one-to-one basis

This was news to Jennifer who had taken the children to the pool many times previously without a problem. But she was told this had always been the policy there.

She said: "I was told that the pool's policy regarding adult-to-children ratios required another adult to accompany us, the ratio being one adult to every child under five. I queried this with the receptionist and she told me the policy had always been in place. I pointed out that clearly it hadn't and asked to speak to the manager."

She said that the duty manager then explained that the policy was at the discretion of the particular duty manager. She added: "Despite my appeals this duty manager refused our admission saying he was within his rights to refuse and was protecting himself from possible compensation claims and disciplinary action." To add to Jennifer's amazement, when she asked about child-care facilities at the sports centre she was told they were not available at the weekend.

She said: "I am a working single mum. I am now unable to take both my children swimming at the same time and if I take one swimming I have to pay for care for the other - this would apply for both children therefore effectively doubling an already-increased expense."

The policy is the result of 12-year-old guidelines set out by the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM) which recommends that adults should supervise no more than one child under the age four and no more than two between four and eight. However, these are only guidelines and they were developed to be flexible. The ISRM suggests that the guidelines need not apply if, for example, children are wearing armbands in a special area of the pool designated for their use or they can already swim. Westminster Lodge's Toddler Splash sessions take place in a special small pool for children separate from the main pool.

Jennifer, along with other infuriated parents, is now calling for something to change. A pressure group called Right to Swim has recently been formed and their plight has gone to the top. At a Prime Minister's Question Time last month Tony Blair said: "I think parents are perfectly well able to judge how they must best look after their children."

The district council admitted yesterday that the new agreed swimming ratio was one adult per under five child in the main pool but one adult per two under-five children in the learner pool - where Jennifer would have taken her children. A spokesperson explained that it followed Health and Safety Executive guidance and was normally conveyed to all their sites by Leisure Connection, which operates the pool on the council's behalf. "It appears that on this occasion, this procedure failed," she added. The council has written a letter apologising to Ms Huggard and enclosing free swim passes.

Sports centres face £3million bill Herts Advertiser 23.9. 04 From http://snipurl.com/9bh0

A SHOCK report shows that nearly £3 million needs to be spent to bring leisure facilities in the St Albans district up to scratch. Most of the money would need to be directed at Westminster Lodge and Bricket Wood sports centres, according to the report which was commissioned from consultants as part of the tendering process for the district council's leisure contract which is up for renewal next March.

The report says that Westminster Lodge is facing an immediate and significant requirement for refurbishment at an estimated cost of almost £1.9 million in the next five years. Major defects were found in the main structure and water has been penetrating throughout the building fabric causing corrosion, staining, surface cracking, mould growth and falling plaster. The inspection also revealed that many of the key mechanical and electrical systems were no longer working, the ventilation supply to the main pool hall was virtually uncontrolled and the heat-recovery system, which could salvage 50 per cent of the heating costs, had not been working for a decade.

Bricket Wood, where the pool has been closed since March after high winds blew in a large window, also requires more than £1 million to be spent within the next five years. The report shows major internal defects including water damage and moisture penetrating the building fabric.

Cllr Malcolm MacMillan, chair of the St Albans overview and scrutiny committee which looked at the report last week, said members were shocked when they realised the extent of the deterioration. He maintained that the lack of action which had allowed the problems to arise were a combination of the contractor not upholding standards and the council failing to monitor the state of the buildings.

He had asked Leisure Connection, which runs the council's sports and recreational facilities, to appear at the meeting - not, he said, to apportion blame but to discuss better monitoring - but they had declined.

Cllr MacMillan went on: "I can't believe that a company which has been managing our services for 14 years is unable to come and talk about the conditions of the facilities. I wasn't very happy about it. I felt it was an insult to the council."

Sports and healthy living portfolio holder, Cllr Sheila Burton, admitted there had been concern about the lack of proper monitoring of conditions at the Bricket Wood sports centre in particular. It is leased from the HSBC Bank and most of the estimated £1 million costs of repair are the council's liability because of the requirement to return the centre to its owners in the condition it was in when they took it on. A full report on its future is due to go to the council's cabinet next month.

Leisure Connection maintains that it sent a "full and detailed" letter to the overview and scrutiny committee explaining that the company felt it was inappropriate to attend the meeting because its presence possibly challenged the current position in the procurement process. A spokesperson added: "In addition, Leisure Connection is currently undertaking its own review of the findings from the condition survey and their intention had always been to report back to council officers once this review was completed at a date to be agreed with council officers.

Parents' nursery fees-hike fear Hendon & Finchley Times 19.3.03 http://www.hendon-times.co.uk/archive/display.var.281035.0.parents_nursery_feeshike_fear.php

Children are being forced out of a pre-school nursery in London Colney according to parents who are facing a potential hike in fees of almost 50 per cent. At a meeting last Wednesday (March 12) at the First Adventure Nursery in Alexander Road, London Colney, parents were told they would be expected to pay a huge increase in fees from the end of this month.

Parents at the meeting were so outraged that they are now forming an action group to fight the proposals. Mr Ian Vanlint, of Antonine Gate, St Albans, who has a three-year-old son at the nursery. He said: "This is an absolute scandal. None of the parents at the meeting were given any warning.

"I have learned that in order to keep my child at the nursery I will be expected to pay £140 per month extra on top of the £400 I currently pay this is a 37 per cent rise. Just to pay nursery fees I would have to receive a salary increase of over £2,000. I have spoken to one mother who says her increase is closer to 47 per cent per hour."

The First Adventure Nursery is a joint run project by St Albans District Council and Leisure Connection. Mr Vanlint said parents are planning to meet with Leisure Connection at the first opportunity.

St Albans MP Kerry Pollard has also been informed of the situation and the group is considering writing a letter to Chancellor Gordon Brown. A spokesman for the district council conceded that the increasing fees for non-residents had risen by 47 per cent. She added that residents with children aged under two could expect an 18 per cent rise and there would be around a 35 per cent rise for parents with a child aged from two to five.

The spokesman said: "Leisure connection proposed the change in fees in order to improve service, staff levels, equipment and facilities. The changes were approved by full council and the changes were advertised on site."

Area manager for Leisure Connection Mr Chris Brown was not available for comment.

What parents will have to pay per week:
Residents with a child aged up to two years = £135 per week: (18.4 per cent increase.)
Non-residents with a child aged up to two years = £180 per week: (11.5 per cent increase)
Residents with a child aged two to five years = £135 per week: (35.3 per cent increase.)
Non-residents with a child aged two to five years £180 per week (22.2 per cent increase).

Nursery fees rise agreed By Owen Morris

A COMPROMISE has been reached between district councillors over London Colney First Adventure Nursery's fees but parents still say the increases are too high.... Councillor John Newman, portfolio holder for leisure, defended the original increase, saying he wanted to bring the nursery cost in line with other childcare centres. But, at the district council's cabinet on Tuesday, April 8, London Colney councillor Malcolm MacMillan asked members to reconsider.

He said: "I am fighting this because this level of increase is nothing short of astronomical. I don't believe any councillors are in support of this. Years ago Leisure Connection came to us asking to run this nursery and the ethos was not to compare prices with nurseries in the private sector. This was never supposed to be a profit-making service."

Councillor MacMillan said the proposed increase had "put the fear of God into parents" who were afraid they might have to leave work to look after their children or that the nursery could close if its costs were not met.

Councillor Newman said: "I accept that myself and others have had afterthoughts and it might have been better to bring the increases in gradually."

Parents attended the meeting to express their anger at the rise, but were ushered out while members discussed the council's confidential contractural obligations to Leisure Connection. One mother, who did not wish to be named, said the increase would see her paying more for childcare than her monthly mortgage repayments. After almost an hour, councillors agreed on a 12 per cent increase from May, with no automatic increase planned for next year.

Speaking on behalf of parents after the meeting, Mrs Lena Hopkinson of Valley Road, London Colney, said: "This is good news for the parents who were facing the largest increases, but bad news for those who were facing less than 12 per cent in the first place. "It is still way above the rate of inflation and will still put a massive dent in the monthly income of any parent with more than one child at the nursery."

From This is Hertfordshire 9.7.04 http://www.thisishertfordshire.co.uk/display.var.508561.0.pool_closure_forces_centre_staff_cutbacks.php

Pool closure forces centre staff cutbacks by Owen Morris

STAFF are being laid off at Bricket Wood Leisure Centre because repairs to the swimming pool will not be completed until next year.The pool has been closed since March when gale force winds shattered two six-foot-wide windows, showering the pool with broken glass.

But Leisure Connection the company that runs the leisure centre on behalf of St Albans District Council said the pool will not open again until January and is making staff redundant in the meantime. A spokesman said: "Due to the closure of the swimming pool building, Leisure Connection is unable to provide some of its staff with the level of work originally stated within their contracts. As a result, all staff concerned have been offered re-deployment within the St Albans contract. Leisure Connection has reassured all staff that they will be able to return to their original positions once the swimming pool building re-opens."

The spokesman said all pool staff had been affected but would not say how many.

Council leisure manager Ray Figg said a timetable is being drawn up and a report would go before councillors in September when they will decide on a course of action. A council spokesman said: "The council has requested quotes for the new windows and for other work for the pool hall from specialist manufacturers. When these are available, members will be asked to explore a number of options for the repair of the pool. The work is complex and will take time. Every effort is being made to allow swimmers to fit into the schedules at the Harpenden, Westminster Lodge and other pools."