Canada Water pool reopens after maintenance woes

A not-for-profit swimming club in south London has re-opened following a four-month closure.

The Canada Water Leisure Centre pool had only been open for six weeks before it was forced to close in October because of a maintenance issue.

Southwark Aquatics Swimming Club (SASC) previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it was losing around £500 in revenue a month because of the closure, which saw some members leaving while others were only paying half the usual fees.

Southwark Council said it worked with the original contractors to fix the problems to ensure the centre now meets "the high standards our community expects".

The Canada Water Leisure Centre opened in September with an eight-lane, 25m (82ft) pool, only to six close weeks later.

The council said it had found problems within the building, including a fault with the system that controls temperature and air quality around the pool.

The chairman of SASC, Andy Moore, said it had been a "tough time" for the council, club and users of the pool.

He said the club had lost around 10% of its members, and some struggled to travel to alternative venues which were located up to seven miles away.

"Our club members are over the moon that the months of turmoil they endured travelling to alternate pools are at an end and that training will return to normal."

He added: "Now though, we must look forward; I hope that our club will bounce back and that swimmers who left us will return."

The club is run by volunteers and parents who train swimmers of all abilities aged eight to 15, and members have gone on to successfully compete at county, regional and national levels.

Before moving into the new leisure centre, the club was based at Seven Islands Leisure Centre, which has now been closed to make way for Canada Water Leisure Centre.

The new centre is part of the multi-billion pound Canada Water Masterplan which spans a 53-acre (2,500 sq m) site in partnership with the council.

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