APPENDIX 27
Memorandum submitted by Norfolk County
Amateur Swimming Association
THE SPORT OF SWIMMING
Our Association has considered the three topics
that you specify in document number five and we would like to
comment on the situation in Norfolk.
HISTORIC SWIMMING
POOLS
We know of no listed Swimming Pools or ones
that are genuinely historic.
SWIMMING FACILITIES
AVAILABLE IN
COMMUNITIES
The under-provision of swimming facilities in
Norfolk has been well documented over many years in various Sports
Council (the old Eastern Region Council), Norfolk County Council
and Norwich City Council Sports Strategies.
In recent years the position has improved with
the opening of two new 25 metre pools and a further three pools
in the planning stage but the rural nature of our County still
leaves certain locations many miles from a community pool.
A major concern that we have is that most learn
to swim classes are held in shallow school pools that are many
years old and becoming unreliable. Maintenance is just adequate
to keep pools in operation and should any become uneconomic to
repair the number of classes would need to be reduced.
Teaching of swimming has always had a high priority
in Norfolk in view of our many miles of coastline and vast areas
of inland water.
FACILITIES AND
TRAINING SUPPORT
AVAILABLE FOR
COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS
Training support is available in most areas
through ten affiliated clubs who offer competitive swimming.
Although Norfolk's first 50 metre pool opened
at the University of East Anglia just over a year ago, swimmers
in our outlying areas still have a considerable distance to travel
to train in a 50 metre facility. As it is the only such facility,
pool space at suitable hours is very much at a premium.
Disciplines other than competitive swimming
suffer from a lack of deep water. Synchronised swimming in Norfolk
has made considerable progress in the immediate past years despite
inadequate water depth and further progress is difficult in this
situation. Cost economy has meant that new pools have been restricted
to 1.8 metres which is not adequate for the discipline.
The problem is even more acute for diving, as
the only pool with diving facilities was demolished some five
or so years ago and diving does not now take place anywhere in
the County.
27 November 2001
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