The 2020 season
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PARISH COUNCIL HAS HAD TO MAKE THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISION THAT THE POOL WILL NOT OPEN THIS YEAR AT ALL, FOR EITHER THE SCHOOL TO USE, OR FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP TO USE DURING THE HOLIDAY.
Guidance on Covid-19 related health and safety implications for the re-opening of swimming pools has now been published by the national regulatory body for the operating of pools. The parish council hoped that there might be an opportunity to open up the pool for the later part of the year, but the control measures have not been sufficiently relaxed for this to be practical; new stringent measures for hygiene, distancing in the water including the installation of swim lanes, very reduced numbers at any one time, with consequent lifeguarding implications – these guidelines have all made it unrealistic to use our small pool. Also, the council could not offer resuscitation courses at any time in the foreseeable future, and the pool has now lost considerable funds towards running costs, including fundraising from this year’s cancelled Swoosh. In addition to all of this, the school authorities are unable to allow non-staff adults and non-school children into the school grounds for the foreseeable future. These reasons have all combined to make opening the pool this year an impossibility.
Everybody is hoping that there will be a proper control on the spread of the virus, and some form of treatment or vaccination put in place by the time we come round to next spring – then the pool can open up again next season for everybody to use.