Co-Founder of PoolTooSmall Ingrid Gilroy exposes the New Lodge "Con Pool" and agrees with the ASA about a 50 metre community pool.

THREE SWIMMING POOLS?

SIR-I was thrilled when I saw the wrap round of  your edition of  30^th September for  the new leisure centre planned for Westminster Lodge.

 It told me that, amongst the other things to be included, were THREE swimming pools. Hooray I thought, they’ve listened to  PoolTooSmall’s concerns that the new main swimming pool would not be big enough to cater for future population growth. See www.pooltoosmall.com

 However, when I read further, I discovered that the third SWIMMING pool referred to is the confidence pool with very shallow water for  0-5 year old children–more a puddle than a SWIMMING pool! This  puddle is estimated by the Council to cost  £513,000 to build! A very expensive puddle to my mind.

 All in all,what a disappointment. Especially as it is now revealed that far from recommending that the new main pool should be  25 x 8 lanes  the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) have stated all along that their 1^st choice  would be a 50 metre configurable community pool  with diving boards and pit.

 With the inadequate proposed Main Pool size of only 25m by 8 lanes , what an opportunity is being missed to leave a wonderful Olympic year legacy for St Albans to cherish! 

INGRID GILROY.  Co- Founder of PoolTooSmall – www.pooltoosmall.com