Hi Palmwino and Martin Dowland,

I think you both make valid points. Local authorities (and their contractors)
are free to administer the scheme as they see fit. Some enlightened boroughs
such as - I believe - Islington (and their contractor, Aquaterra) choose to
allow people in to swim at what are termed "peak hours", including before 9am
but lane allocation is in force to avoid conflict.

Less englightened boroughs, such as Tower Hamlets and Hackney (and their
somewhat inferior contractor GLL) place all manner of restrictions on swimmers
(you need a bloody PhD to understand their price schedules and timetables). No
wonder that lots of people I know from out of one of the other boroughs visit
Islington to swim .

But, as Dave points out, those who are economically active tend to work 9-5 and
can exercise only outside those hours. They have to pay more to use the
facilities and, when they get there, the facilities are far busier than during
the daytime (ie. off peak). So it seems fair and sensible to me that, if you
can benefit from the scheme, you should use it at the time it is most quiet (and
for local incentive schemes to reflect that).

Of course, many of the most needy people - who would benefit most from free
swimming, such as physically disabled people, people with mental health issues,
chronically sick, socially isolated, etc - do not qualify and get left out in
the cold. Their free swimming schemes during off-peak hours have been
withdrawn. But the local authorities and Government is strangely quiet on this
issue - funny that, isn't it?

As for London Fields Lido, it is absolutely beautiful, stunning and a pure
pleasure to swim in. But it breaks my heart to go at - say, 2.30 pm - and be
one of only five or six in the entire pool. Obviously it gets busy by 5pm and,
in the summer months, it is so chocka with screaming peeing kids you wouldn't
want to be in there if they paid you. But during the rest of the year? It is
criminal to let that pool sit empty and force locals to travel miles (even
travel out of the borough) to get an affordable swim.

There, I've had my ha'pennies worth!

J


--- In Yorkhall@..., martin dowland <martindowland@...> wrote:
>
> fitness swims at these times are perfectly reasonable since they allow people
who want to do vigorous swimming on their way to work the chance to do this with
minimal hinderance, which is experienced at most other times. People who are
less likely to be in a rush go later, often at the same time as their 'club'
sessions ( atype of membership for over 55's).
> Some people shout loudly that they want to have a swim, sauna or hatever 24/7,
such that they would deprive others of a rare chance to get the facility. Would
you say the same if you found you couldn't behave hygienically and in a relaxed
manner if your men only session was invaded by women and vice versa?
> No, givernment money iis not being pocketed by the service provider. I blame
the Daily Telegraph for your apparent assumption!
>
> --- On Mon, 29/6/09, palmwino <palmwino@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: palmwino <palmwino@...>
> Subject: [Yorkhall] "Swim for life" initiative
> To: Yorkhall@...
> Date: Monday, 29 June, 2009, 3:26 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Any over 60s out there a bit miffed that we can't get a swim "when we would
normally expect to get a swim" (Dept of Media, Culture & Sport website) for
free? In other words, why is the "Fitness Swim" session from 7am-9am not
designated as a 'public swimming' session, even though it is open to all members
of the public, albeit adults?
> All pools administered by GLL seem to be subject to this restriction,
including all pools within the 'Olympic Boroughs' (so much for 'Olympic
legacy'!) Those Hackney residents wondering why they can't get a free swim AT
ALL in the only Olympic-sized pool (London Fields Lido) might feel especially
miffed!
> Does anyone have the energy to contribute to a borough-wide, even capital-wide
campaign to call GLL to task, and institute this initiative in the spirit in
which it was conceived? (I mean, at least, would you sign a petition?)
> I fear once again the government pronises one thing, whilst the local
implementation of it is devised to maximise profits & minimise costs. Millions
have been allocated to this initiative, and hundreds of thousands have been
allocated to your local council. How much of this money is being pocketed by the
proxy administrators of these schemes?
> Dave Draper
>