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Council
Blasted for "Abysmal Record"
in Promoting Pool
Despite
the recent gala opening of the new facilities
at Chiswick New Pool, local residents
remain sceptical about the Council's long
term commitment to the facility.
The
Council had threatened to close the pool
last year due to lack of funding but a
vocal campaign helped keep this popular
facility open to the general public.
A
flaw in the construction of the pool has
lead to exceptionally high running costs
and as part of the plan to save the Council
decided to turn part of the facility into
a gym, the revenue from which was planned
to cover the short fall.
However
campaigners who were involved in the original
effort to save the pool allege the Council
is making the same mistakes that caused
to the pool to operate at a loss.
According
to David Giles, a central figure in the
campaign:
"
Chiswick New Pool has remained one of
Chiswick's best kept secrets. Apart from
some very welcome banners on the Chertsey
Road/Edensor Road junction announcing
the opening of the new gym, the Council
has done very little to promote the use
of this marvelous pool and its facilities."
With
stiff competition from the Park Club and
the new Esporta facilities at Chiswick
Business Park the pool is in danger of
losing customers, despite offering access
to its facilities at a far cheaper rate.
The Council's promotion effort does appear
to be patchy - there is no mention of
the opening on their web-site or a press
release on the subject. David Giles believes
this attitude may pose a longer term threat
to the pool:
"It
is vital that Chiswick New Pool with its
new gym should remain open as a public
swimming pool open to all upon payment
of affordable fees. The Council needs
to ensure that the pool and the new gym
make the best possible financial contribution
towards the facility's running costs.
This cannot happen unless the Council
improves its abysmal record of failing
to market and promote Chiswick New Pool
properly. Otherwise, it is likely that
the Council may try to sell the Pool off
to the private sector in the future."
We
did ask the Council to comment on Mr Giles'
remarks but they did not respond.
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