An Ayrshire leisure centre has been forced to close its swimming pool following difficulties maintaining a safe water temperature, with bosses warning that opening it in its current state could risk causing cold-water shock for swimmers.
Freezing temperatures coupled with old boilers and infrastructure “past its lifespan” at Visions Leisure Centre have given Cumnock & District Leisure Group no choice but to close the pool.
All other facilities at the leisure centre remain open – including the gym, strength room, sauna and steam room and customers will not be charged for swimming lessons which have been frozen and will restart when the pool is reopened.
Platinum memberships have also been reduced from £37.50 to £25 until March.
Funding for a new boiler and pool lining as well as other upgrades have been secured and the leisure group are working to deliver these as soon as possible.
Visions Leisure Centre recently celebrated their 20th anniversary and the pool was still operating with much of the original infrastructure, including the original boiler.
In a letter to “valued customers”, Cumnock & District Leisure Group board of directors explained the reasons behind the closure.
“As you know, our community pool is now 20 years old and still operates with its original boilers and plant room. Over the years, thousands of local children, school pupils, and adults have learned to swim at Visions – a legacy we’re incredibly proud of”, they said.
“Unfortunately, the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on swimming pools across the country, with thousands now permanently closed.
“We want to sincerely thank you for supporting us through these challenging times. However, the pool’s infrastructure is past its lifespan, with parts discontinued and boilers in urgent need of replacement.
“Visions is proudly owned by Cumnock & District Leisure Group, a Scottish charity and not-for-profit social enterprise. This is your centre, built through the efforts of local people, four of whom are still on our board.
“While we receive partial funding from East Ayrshire Council, we rely heavily on membership income to keep the centre running.
“Operating a deck-level pool comes with unique challenges. Recently, external ground temperatures have made it difficult to maintain a safe water temperature.
“The pool is currently at 25.1°C, below our usual 27-29°C range for comfortable swimming. Removing the pool cover causes the temperature to drop further, risking cold-water shock and making it unsafe for use.
“As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to temporarily close the pool to ensure the safety of all users.
“All swimming lesson memberships have been frozen, so no direct debit payments will be taken during the closure.
“Your place in your swimming lesson group is secure, and we will contact you once the pool is operational to confirm when lessons and payments will resume.
“While the pool is closed, our other facilities remain fully operational, including the gym, strength room, sauna, and steam room. In December, we’re adding two new treadmills and rowing machines to enhance your fitness experience.
“For our platinum members, we’re reducing the monthly membership to £25 from £37.50 per month until March 25, which includes access to all classes, the gym, the strength room, the sauna, and the steam room.
“We will adjust direct debits accordingly. Your continued membership directly supports essential maintenance and repairs, helping Visions remain a vital community hub.
“We are pleased to share that we’ve secured funding for a boiler replacement, new pool lining, and plant upgrades.
“We’re actively working with consultants and contractors to bring the pool back to full operation as soon as possible. These upgrades are critical to ensure the pool continues to serve our community for years to come.
“Thank you for your patience, understanding, and commitment during this time. We’ll keep you updated on progress and look forward to welcoming you back to a fully operational pool soon.”
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