Thame Swimming Club (Unanswered) Letter To British PM Highlights Plight Of Programs Struggling To Stay Afloat
Thame Swimming Club in England has had no reply to a September 9 letter written to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pleading for Government help in the struggle for survival of swimming clubs in the wake of swimming pool closure and partial re-openings related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The silence from No10 Downing Street reflects the sporting ‘pecking-order’ plight of Thame and many other clubs like it in Britain but, in various forms, across the world of swimming.
Thame Swimming Club chairman Phil Evans, who penned the letter to Johnson, highlights two key aspects of the struggle swimming clubs are facing: lack of pool time because of restrictions in numbers; and rising lane-hire costs as a result of the dramatic drop in the numbers allowed into facilities, matched by an obvious drop in income. Evans notes:
“Along with the lack of pool time we hadn’t anticipated that our pool hire costs would increase by nearly 50%, making it impossible for us to sustain the club going forward as parents already pay a hefty monthly fee for membership – all this putting the future of swimming at Thame at risk for our young competitors.”
Evans notes Swim England figures that show a health picture at the surface: since the lifting of lockdown restrictions and a return to pools, 767 of the 1,002 public accessible pools have reopened in some form, or have published an imminent reopening date.
Dip deeper into a troubled pond, however, and, notes Evans, “223 pools remain indefinitely closed and 193 still have no confirmed date for when they will open again impacting swim schools, competitive swimming clubs, swimming teachers, lifeguards and facility staff.”
In his letter to Johnson, Evans concludes:
“It’s now time that the Government addressed the impact on swimming as a sport and call an emergency conference with all those involved in the industry to work out a way to save our community swimming clubs and safeguard British swimming.”
Thame Swimming Club Letter To PM Boris Johnson
– As Yet Unanswered:
Reproduced with permission:
Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP 10 Downing Street London
SW1A 2AA
09 September 2020
Price rise and lack of pool time could see Thame (Oxfordshire) Swimming Club close
Dear Prime Minister,
After many months of closure, we welcomed the announcement about pools re-opening from 25th July even if it was going to feel very different for our swimmers having to arrive beach ready (in swimming costumes), not being able to shower before entering the pool and with the numbers of swimmers in each lane limited – very different to swimming life pre-Covid19.
This excitement soon turned to frustration as it wasn’t anticipated that our pool time would be extremely limited having only a fraction of the pool time we need to ensure our swimmers remain competitive with swimmers from other clubs who have considerable more time. Already, this is starting to have an impact on our membership with some parents now looking at alternative clubs within the County.
Along with the lack of pool time we hadn’t anticipated that our pool hire costs would increase by nearly 50%, making it impossible for us to sustain the club going forward as parents already pay a hefty monthly fee for membership – all this putting the future of swimming at Thame at risk for our young competitors.
Due to the current Covid19 situation and the restrictions which remain in place at the leisure centre, our provider (GLL) is under huge financial pressure to continue providing a service to the community. This makes it almost impossible for them to fulfil their core principles as a charitable social enterprise to promote healthy and active lifestyles by giving communities access to facilities that help improve their health and happiness.
These difficulties also do not sit well with your recent Government announcement about actively encouraging more exercise to urgently tackle obesity in the fight against Covid19.
Discussions with clubs at centres run by other operators, highlight that most are maintaining pre-Covid fees to help everyone get back up and running, in line with recommendations from the governing body (Swim England).
Research from Swim England (21st August) has shown that across the country almost a quarter of public pools remain shut – nearly a month after they were given the green light to reopen. At Thame we have been in discussion with a number of other clubs operated by GLL with many remaining closed or facing a significant and unsustainable increase in fees from GLL.
Swim England have revealed that while 767 of the 1,002 public accessible pools have reopened in some form, or have published an imminent reopening date, 223 remain indefinitely closed and 193 still have no confirmed date for when they will open again impacting swim schools, competitive swimming clubs, swimming teachers, lifeguards and facility staff.
It’s now time that the Government addressed the impact on swimming as a sport and call an emergency conference with all those involved in the industry to work out a way to save our community swimming clubs and safeguard British swimming.
Please support Thame Swimming Club to ensure we don’t become leisure’s ‘forgotten activity’.
Yours,
Phil Evans
Chair – Thame Swimming Club
Email: chairman@thameswimmingclub.co.uk
Notes:
Thame Swimming Club typically has 130 members ranging in age from 8 to 18 years. We offer training for competitive swimming at a number of local pools including Thame Leisure Centre (Thame) and are focused on the development of swimmers across a broad range of training levels and on keeping the fun factor high.
We pride ourselves on a great, welcoming atmosphere. Our aim is to give each swimmer a feeling of accomplishment at his or her individual level.