Pool Facts

The existing main pool is 33 metres by 6 lanes. The new main pool is shorter, at 25 metres, and wider at 8 lanes (adding space for an extra 9 bathers). See our handy visual guide to water space changes.

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Welcome

NEW LODGE LEARNER POOL BEGINS WATER TESTING - 24TH JANUARY 2012.
The action simply never stops on site as Willmott Dixon drive ahead with the New Lodge Project. Here we see the first of the 3 pools at the new Centre being water tested . It's the 17 metre by 10 metre Learner Pool which will have a fully moveable floor from zero to a maximum depth of 2 metres. It took a week to fill it up the and soon , after letting everything settle down, the water level will be checked for a week for leaks in the mass of reinforced concrete surrounding it and below. Note a safety feature , Willmott Dixon are hot on this,  on the right a red flotation ring in case any site staff fall in! This pool has not been tiled yet so what happens to the water once the test is over ? They use it to help  fill up the 25 metre by 10 lane Main Pool for testing - water is expensive in these quantities - good ecology WDCL! And so it continues and on time - well done British Engineering!
KEY NEW LODGE SERVICE ROAD DECISION ON MONDAY 30TH JANUARY 2012 IN COUNCIL CHAMBER.
It's been a long time coming but at long last , not pre-empting due process, practical engineering common sense is on offer now for the Plans Central Committee next Monday evening to grant Planning Permission for a multiple winner.Please click on  http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=132&MId=6717  for the night's agenda. One of PoolTooSmall's Chartered Engineers David Gilroy, hopes to speak in support of the Council's excellent application . There are more details further down this webpage . If you have time join us next Monday to witness this special event - it's your democratic right. 
POOLTOOSMALL SUPPORTER ROMA MILLS WINS BATCHWOOD BYE-ELECTION. 19TH JANUARY 2012.
PoolTooSmall is delighted to announce that one of it’s longtime supporters Roma Mills was re-elected in the Batchwood Bye-election held on Thursday 19th January 2012. Please click below now to see the official result on the SADC Website.
Here at PoolTooSmall we have no political status – we never say “Vote Party X or Y”. What we do however is commend or otherwise individuals who support our general campaign for improved leisure/aquatic facilities in the City and District of St.Albans. Last night was a classic example of democracy in action. Here we had a 5 star asset to the City and the Council Chamber who , removed from office by a single vote in May 2010 still fought for our cause in the frontline at Westminster Lodge and at the Council Offices. The colour of party rosettes means nothing to us at PoolTooSmall – it’s individuals listening to us the People and delivering the goods on the ground which impresses the resident or voter. We repeat yet again to everyone of the SADC’s 58 elected Councillors that only we the People give you the honour and privilege to listen to us then act appropriately. You are there to serve us and not yourselves. Ignore this message at your peril – there are local elections of one kind or another every May and 2012 is no exception. PoolTooSmall has much to do in 2012 particularly safely seeing in the New Lodge Centre but also ensuring that key operating decisions taken in the Council Chamber meet with the People’s approval. To this end Roma’s Return is welcome , we believe, right across the political spectrum.
WELCOME BACK COUNCILLOR ROMA MILLS.
VOTE IN BATCHWOOD BYE-ELECTION  THURSDAY 19TH JANUARY 2012 - 7AM- 10PM. 
If you are eligible please exercise your democratic right to vote to select a Councillor in Batchwood Ward . It is not our place to say "Vote Party X or Y" - what we do is indicate individual candidates who we believe we can trust to drive through our priorities. Hence see below where a 5 star asset Roma Mills (pictured) is standing .Young family man Tim Smith who apparently swims at Westminster Lodge is also standing.
We are informed by Returning Officer Mr Lovelady that counting will start at 10.15pm on the Thursday night just after Polls close at the Council Offices. We presume a result by midnight?  Good luck everyone.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 FROM POOLTOOSMALL - JANUARY STARTS WITH A BANG!
ROMA  MILLS STANDS IN BATCHWOOD BYE-ELECTION THURSDAY 19TH JANUARY 2012.
If you thought that PoolTooSmall was going to rest on the successes of the last 2 years, you are wrong - there is much left to do . For years the New Lodge project has been riven by politics and politicians at the People's expense. It has taken, amongst others, the non -political campaign group PoolToosmall to  lobby for changes in the New Lodge specification despite the long term worst efforts of the last political team- removed from power at District elections last May 2011. 
 
Here at PoolTooSmall we have no political status and are not affilliated to any political party and never will be. We never say "Vote Party X or Y"- what we do however is to commend or otherwise individuals, citizens, candidates or Councillors and let you the reader or voter make up your own minds . And stepping up in a surprise bye-election on Thursday 19th January 2012 in Batchwood Ward is longtime PoolTooSmall supporter Roma Mills . On the steps of Westminster Lodge with us as long ago as 2009 and in the Council Chamber in 2010 we have a fighter and winner for our cause . Respected right across the political spectrum and a former St Albans City Mayor and Councillor for 22 years - look no further than this 5 star asset to all of us than Roma Mills! And if that isn't enough then read on as Structural Engineer Mike Wakely  brings potential New Year cheer to the Abbey Theatre and to the New Lodge Project cost savings and ecological benefits!
 FRESH NEW LODGE SERVICE ROAD APPLICATION TO BE HEARD 3OTH JANUARY 2012.
Congratulations to SADC Portfolio Holder and structural engineer Cllr Mike Wakely together with Willmott Dixon for drawing up plans that should have been drawn up two years ago by the now defunct , technically incompetent old Lodge political administration . Here we have a multiple winner of a plan , 5/2011/2253, which , if passed , would remove the Sword of Damocles hanging over our beloved Abbey Theatre these last 2-3 years. The old plan,5/2010/ 2059,  bludgeoned through by tho old Project team  effectively wrecked the Abbey Theatre's obvious future expansion plans for the next 52 years of their lease  by driving a road at the rear of their premises which sterilised their future prospects. But now following on from the brilliant expansion of the New Lodge Main Pool by 25% to 10 lanes, yet more engineering excellence from the new Team as they now  put in an absolute winner of a plan - it is all upsides and no downsides. One of PoolTooSmall's Chartered Engineers David Gilroy formally submitted comment and pictures (above) to Planning Officer Mr Westwood in October 2010. This and several more submissions are totally in favour of the new plan. Please read all about it by clicking on http://planning.stalbans.gov.uk/Planning/lg/GFPlanningSearch.page and following the links . Essentially this plan  is cheaper , safer , socially and ecologically friendlier and operationally better. The potential bonus for all of us is that the costs saved will bring back the Solar PV panels into the Project budget  and literally onto the New Lodge roof! Brilliant! And the Abbey Theatre can get on with it's life.
If you are able , please come to the hearing on 30th January 2012 in the Council Chamber at 7 pm - David Gilroy in his professional capacity expects to speak in support of the Council's excellent application. See you there!
STOP PRESS. You have until 25th January 2012 to comment to Mr Westwood on planning@stalbans.co.uk or write to the Council Offices  quoting 5/2011/2253.
 DON'T SIGN ANYTHING - ABBEY THEATRE - YOUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON SITE IS THEN ASSURED!
STOP PRESS. COUNCIL SUBMIT NEW PLANNING APPLICATION FOR SERVICE ROAD! CRUNCH HEARING 30TH JANUARY 2011.SEE PIECE AT TOP OF THIS PAGE FOR DETAILS!
It is good to see prominent notices displayed by the Council on site that it's business as usual for Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre , the Golf Course and Abbey Theatre.
 
 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
St. Albans District Council plan to replace Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre with a new swimming and leisure complex on the same site. The new centre will have a 25 metre by 8 lane main pool, no diving boards and no flumes. We are enthusiastic at the prospect of a new facility, but we believe that the current plans do not specify enough pool space for the district's existing needs, particularly given the recent Bricket Wood closure, and that the proposed new facility cannot possibly provide sufficient water space to meet the ever increasing demand of the coming decades (see our handy visual guide to changes in the district's water space).
The new project now has planning permission (you can read our account of the planning meeting here). Tendering has been completed , and a total fiasco erupted with chosen contractor Michael McNamara Co having gone bust on Thursday 11th November 2010. The SADC in house project team showed their continuing technical and managerial incompetence by not finding the £1billion McNamara debt after 5 months investigation  whereas PoolTooSmall found it online in 30 seconds!
SADC signed a contract with Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd in February 2011 to build the St.Albans NEWBODGE - a poisoned chalice for the people of St.Albans to tolerate and pay for over the next several decades. Read why the St.Albans NEWBODGE is Unfit for Purpose ,a White Elephant or a Pig in a Poke on this website.
On 5th May 2011 , there was a complete change of Council management following local elections. New Cabinet led by Cllr Daly immediately swung into action with a "root and branch " review of the New Lodge Project. Read more on our headlines above as the new situation unfolds.
 
For general details of our campaign please see the following:
Our handy visual guide to changes in the district's water space, and accounts of current overcrowding in pool too full 
 
We are here for you 24/7  on newpooltoosmall@ntlworld.com  Let us know what you think.
 

 

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