APPENDIX 20
Memorandum submitted by Nottinghamshire
Amateur Swimming Association
As a county we, like many other areas, have
a problem with ageing pool facilities. Many pools were built at
the beginning of the 20th century and fulfilled the requirements
at that time, taking swimming from an activity in local rivers
to a more controlled environment. Refurbishment of these facilities
is, in most instances, not cost effective, due to the need for
improved, environmentally friendly use of energy, changes in health
and safety requirements, and restrictions imposed by the building
designs.
In addition, Nottinghamshire as a pioneering
local authority in the provision of dual use recreation facilities,
is experiencing a problem which will almost certainly develop
in other areas. When the first dual use facilities were built
in the 1960s with joint funding agreements between education and
leisure provision, the swimming facility, which in most cases
comprised a rectangular pool of 25 yards or less, served the requirements
of both education and the community. These facilities are now
needing major refurbishment work, but the expectations of the
two funding partners have changed. Whilst education still requires
the rectangular pool which facilitates teaching and coaching in
a formal situation, the community now expects more "glamorous
surroundings". The funding arrangements are therefore no
longer appropriate and it is likely that swimming facilities on
dual use sites could close. This is an issue which could be addressed
through the new monies available for sports facilities on school
sites.
Swimming is an activity which fulfils a dual
role. It is a life skill which is essential to all people. It
is the one sport which will touch almost every household in the
country, either through children learning to swim, people of all
ages going on holiday with access to beaches and pools, or adults
engaging in fitness activities. The importance of swimming in
our lifestyle is underlined by surveys which have shown that the
two skills which patients want their children to learn outside
of the formal education structure are to learn to swim and to
learn to drive.
Swimming is also a competitive sport which provides
a programmed activity for a large number of young people with
a competitive structure from the local level through County District
and National levels to Olympic representation.
It is this dual role which often clouds issues
with regard to the provision of facilities. Whilst the revenue
costs for swimming pools is often higher than for the facilities
for other sports, it is still essential that all aspects of the
swimming have access to appropriate pool space.
The Amateur Swimming Association's facilities
plan looks to encourage the provision of eight-lane 25 metre competition
facilities for county and regional championships and 50 metre
training pools for developing excellence in our international
performance swimmers.
As a County we do not have a 25 metre eight-lane
competition pool, yet we have a Unitary Authority planning to
close two old facilities and replace them with a 12k expenditure
on a leisure pool.
There are now examples in the UK of pools which
have been designed to deliver low running costs and variable programming.
It is important that the DCMS through Sport England endeavour
to influence the direction of monies available for pool replacements
so that all aspects of the sport can be delivered. Children who
have not learnt to swim properly will not visit leisure pools.
It is important that the expertise and goodwill
of the army of volunteer teachers, coaches and administrators
in swimming is not lost. Clubs need access to appropriate facilities
at reasonable prices in order to continue to provide the next
generations with the life skill they need and the opportunity
to develop their talents to the extent of their ability.
We trust that these views will be considered
by the Committee in support of evidence from the Amateur Swimming
Association.
26 November 2001
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