In previous years, this last weekend in May would have been the day the Open Air Pool opened. Not this year. This year it is only planned to open for six weeks over the school holidays. Three years ago, £1.3m was invested in redeveloping the pool, and it is a big surprise that the pool is not being used more now it is brand new. The Oxford Mail photographer also arrived to get a group picture of the protesters who want it open for longer.
There was a ‘Queens Gambit’ chess tournament in the Roysse Room today organised by Abingdon Passion Play.
The groom arrived on his tractor for a wedding ceremony today, and took his bride away in unusual style.
I made a video featuring all these events and more. It also included people in East St Helen Street putting back the bunting that got knocked down by a lorry last Tuesday. There is even a look inside the Abbey Cinema foyer where Top Gun Maverick is being promoted.
I am not at all surprised that the pool isn’t open yet.
It is really is ridiculous to have an asset like the swimming pool and leave it idle for 46 weeks of the year. The geese are really enjoying the sprinklers – what a shame not to see it full of kids instead. And I can’t understand why the kiosk isn’t open all year round – it ought to do really well in that location.
I think a bit more transparency from the council would be welcome on this.
I suspect that last year’s usage will have been a factor in the decision, but there were problems with the scheduling and booking system that will have contributed to that:
1) Session numbers were limited because of Covid, but the booking system was such that those with full membership could book up sessions early at very low cost. The rest of us could only book 5 days ahead, by which time many sessions were full. Yet frequently I got what was supposed to be the last slot, then on arrival found hardly anyone there. Clearly people were making advance bookings just in case, and not bothering to cancel them if they decided not to go. It would be fairer to make all slots only bookable a few days in advance.
2) During the school holidays, the last slot for Lane swimming was around 8.40 and at 9.00 staff started removing the lane barriers. I am sure there would have been more users if the lanes were open till 10.00 – “Swim for All” could then have say 6-7 hours, then back to Lanes for the evening.
3) No evening sessions makes no sense at all!
4) Iain is right about the kiosk – given that there is no other food/drink outlet (other than the ice-cream van) within several hundred yards, what a wasted opportunity!
Hopefully the STOP team, who have a good track record, will be making these points to the Vale.
Beggars belief how all the other outdoor pools in Oxfordshire are open as normal. The Vale need to give their heads a wobble, district elections next year..
Other outdoor pools in the area seem able to manage…perhaps someone “from our pool management” could buy someone from “their pool management” a pint and have a chat about how to successfully run and manage an out door facility?
It can’t be rocket science, as others seem to do it, and do it well. Why is it that there’s always a long list of reasons and factors and excuses for Abingdon….time and time again?
Abingdon is really really good at putting on events with green gowns and gold chains and patting people on the back. Please could we have the same level of input on the wider community facilities?
Different councils Daniel. Gold chains etc = town council, swimming pool & sprinklers = vowhdc (outsourced to greenwich leisure)
Yes, thanks Iain….I suddenly realised that as I posted… doh!
Fusion leisure runs Hinksey.
Better (the devil you know) runs both us and also Wallingford (their pool opening now). I guess our council deal makers aren’t as good as the council dealakers for Wallingford?
Out of interest…who are the nameless faceless officers that make such decisions I wonder?
It does beg the question; should I drive to Wallingford to use their facilities that are welcome and open….or should I cycle to Abingdon…that’s closed?
WWGD?
The limited opening hours are attributed to high cost of the fuel used to heat the pool.
We line in a town that encourage people to drive in with subsidised / free parking, yet there’s no money to open the pool.
To me, it feels that a more equitable, and socially beneficial solution would be to better fund the pool from parking revenue.
I don’t know for sure, but don’t other pills have the same “high cost of fuel”?
This is just an idea, and I’m certainly not a business man. Sorry, person….
But how’s about running the pool as a profitable enterprise, that way it could fund itself? You know…like a business?
Your suggestion is in line with my suggestion about car parking. Given you can park for free, it’s certainly not run as a business.
Maybe there are factors, other than profit, that need to be considered when providing for public service?
I agree wholeheartedly! It’s a public service. However, it’s not me who proffer the “excuse” about “it costs too much”. I was just looking for another way.
I agree… Better (the devil you know) got the gig, but not because they run facilities well (from I see and hear).
Hey ho. I’ll try and shut up now, until the issues remain unresolved in another 10yrs time…
Solar heating panels perhaps ?
Or dont heat the pool
Better is the company running the pool. We are paying them, no doubt,.somehow or someway for that privilege. Maybe they, as a business, could come up with some ideas?
I have wondered if a request could be made (by whom? to whom?) for the outdoor pool to be run by someone other than Better. Like Hester, I would like more lane swimming before working hours, and also after working hours. (You’ve guessed it – I work normal office hours, like probably quite a lot of others in Abingdon!) Also session times in the past have meant nobody could swim in their 1-2pm lunch break. BTW – when was this demo? I didn’t know about it? I would have been there if I’d known about it.