Swimming club loses Saturday morning sessions at new pool

MELKSHAM’S swimming club and local parents are up in arms after losing out on their Saturday morning training sessions at the new Melksham pool. 

Melksham Swordfish have had a Saturday morning session at the Blue Pool for two decades or more. But this has been lost at the new pool which opened last month inside the Melksham Community Campus. 

The club said that losing the Saturday morning session was a ‘real blow’ and feared they would lose members, while one parent said she was ‘extremely disappointed’ with the news. 

“The pool is a fantastic new facility and great for the town, but we are really disappointed with the sessions we have been offered,” said Andy Clayton from the Swordfish club. 

“Losing the Saturday morning session is a real blow. We had two hours with lessons for those learning to swim and sessions to help develop technique, stamina and fitness. 

“Now the sessions we’ve been given are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with the Tuesday one a particular problem as it runs from 8.30pm-10.00pm which is far too late, especially during the school term. 

“We had 60+ swimmers along on a typical Saturday morning, but I fear we will be losing some of those with the new sessions. 

“The new pool is open for longer hours, it’s just a shame that we can’t keep our Saturday sessions. The council have said, ‘Let’s get settled in August and we’ll see what we can do,’ but we are worried that it’s already settled.” 

Extremely disappointed

Parent Kerry Haines said, “As a parent of two members of the swimming club I am extremely disappointed. Both of my children had swimming lessons with Melksham Blue Pool. As they progressed, they wanted to compete, something not offered through the council-run lessons, so we moved to Melksham Swordfish Amateur Swimming Club. The club offers swimming lessons, progressing on to competitive swimming.  

“Post-Covid, the Blue Pool greatly reduced our swimming hours, resulting in competitive swimmers only being able to have 45 minutes’ pool time. This is not enough time to complete a drill set. This resulted in a greatly reduced number of swimmers participating in the County Championships this year, with only one swimmer qualifying.  

Excited about possibilities

“Like the rest of Melksham, we have been eagerly awaiting this new campus for 12 years. When we knew it was finally going to open, we were excited about the possibilities for our swimmers and their development from County level to Regional and National level swimming.  

“To be told one week prior to the campus opening that our pool time has been reduced again is extremely disappointing and does not meet the needs of our competitive swimmers.  

“I am proud to have two swimmers in my family who have represented Melksham at County and Regional level, however this will not continue if the campus does not listen to the community and provide a service which is much needed.  

“Other facilities in surrounding towns offer much greater time and appear to work with, not against clubs trying to provide opportunities to further enhance young people’s sporting careers.” 

Another local person, Mark Birkett added, “Shame to see the learn-to-swim sessions from Melksham Swordfish Swimming Club cut by the management of the campus in favour of their own swim lessons.” 

Council’ response

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for leisure commented, “The new pool at Melksham Community Campus is a six lane 25 metre pool rather than the 4 lanes at the Blue Pool; we also now benefit from an additional teaching pool. This substantial increase in pool space and types required us to review the programme, taking into account all bookings requests and business demands. 

“We have strived to maintain the majority of the swimming club’s schedules from the Melksham Blue Pool, but it has been necessary to make some changes due to the logistics of managing a new pool and trying to accommodate a range of local needs. 

“We have spoken to all the clubs to agree their schedules, and our assistant director for leisure has recently met with Melksham Swordfish Swimming Club to discuss their concerns and agree a way forward.   

“The programming will be under regular review as is sensible when opening a new facility and whilst the team get used to customer demands on the water space.”