Change to Aqualibrium public opening times.

[Kintyre Forum News]

Argyll and Bute Council is changing the public opening times in Aqualibrium from Saturday 1 October.

The changes mean that open swimming will not be available to the public during week days between 1.30 – 3.30pm. During this period the pool will be used for schools’ swimming, swimming lessons, water based fitness classes, life guard training and the ‘Big Splash’ programme. The building will close at 3.00pm on Sundays.

Reductions in the leisure budget mean the council has to be more efficient, whilst giving the community best value for the services it operates. These changes were influenced by feedback from a survey of the council’s leisure centre customers across the whole of Argyll and Bute. Customers were asked for their preferred opening hours for sport centres, pools and halls. The council looked at patterns of use, when the quiet times were and how better use could be made of facilities. The changes reflect that any reduction in opening hours has the minimum impact on communities.

Spokesperson for Third Sector and Communities Councillor Rory Colville said, “I understand that some people may be inconvenienced by these changes and I’m sorry if they are. However it is vital that the council deliver its services in the most efficient way it can. The survey of our customers was invaluable as it told us when they were less likely to use our facilities. This means that we can use the pool for those groups who will benefit most, for example those people waiting to get involved with our learn to swim programme. It’s important that we increase the number of children in this scheme and, by running it on week day afternoons, we can decrease waiting times. There is also the additional benefit of running the learn to swim scheme and schools swimming programme with minimal disruption to the public.”

[Mzz pasico]

The building will be closed at 3pm on Sundays? With schools closed and most folks on their day off on this day,these hours
seem ridiculous!