All posts in the topic Launch Topic 2: Whatâs the best future for Jubilee Pool? (Short link)
Summary
- There are 17 posts — by 9 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Elizabeth Venn at Oct 01 09:24 UTC
I'm not sure there can be any doubt that we do need local pools and indeed local facilities of any kind. It should not come down to a pool, library etc being cost effective. All they need to be is effective and Jubilee is. Is it true that Jubilee is really going to close? Surely something can be done, a protest, a march, a swimathon, something other than apathy and just accepting that stuff can get done without any attention paid to local views. If people really do want to save it then lets pick a date, grab as many neighbours and friends as we can, make some "save our pool" banners, get the local and national press involved and give it a whirl. That will be much better than mourning it's loss in a few years time with the knowledge that we did nothing. Regards > To: <email obscured>> From: <email obscured>> Subject: [BrislingtonForum] Launch Topic 2: Whats the best future for Jubilee Pool?> Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:09:06 +1200> > To mark the formal launch of this forum, we'd like to get your views on Jubilee Pool and the proposed Hengrove Leisure complex.Do you use Jubilee? Would you travel to Hengrove? How? Do we need small, local pools within walking distance or centralised super-facilities?> > All the best> Angela Piccini> Chair, Brislington Community Partnership> > > Angela Piccini> Brislington, Bristol> Info about Angela Piccini: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/aapiccini> > This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2qIhitBtgzTKFVVGKigO5g>
Hengrove is too far for us, not having transport and there being no direct bus,
while Jubilee is just up the hill. We've used Jubilee quite a lot in the past
and thoroughly enjoy it. I'd hate to see it close: there aren't enough public
recreation facilities in the area as it is.
Jubilee shouldnt close, it serves two communities, Brislington and Knowle.
Hengrove is a hard to reach area especially on foot or by bus.
I can see the other point, it is quite runned down and in need of some care and
money spent on it and think the users would rather that then it close
altogether.
What about schools? I know at least 4 primary schools that have their swimming
lessons at Jubilee, if the pool moved the children would have to miss valuable
time in the classroom and transport costs would increase to get them to the new
pool.
I am quite happy to help Matt with posters etc. im sure with enough people
power the decision can be changed, what does everyone think?
Remember, Bristol City Council (the people we voted to represent us) does not
seem to follow any line of sense or reasoning.
As far as the swimming pools go, a vast majority of the pools that used to
exist have disappeared. Barton Hill, Broad Weir, Bristol North, Hotwells,
Speedwell and Filwood, just to name a few.
If there is talk of building one at “Redcatch”, does this mean we will lose
more green space to building on Redcatch Park? Let me also guess that if
Jubilee does close, it’ll mean more flats or houses on that site?
Driving through Knowle the other day (to avoid the ridiculous traffic jams
caused at the top of Brislington Hill) I noticed that the former Filwood pool
site is still empty. If I remember correctly, Filwood was the longest Council
owned pool in Bristol?
Although I am not a regular swimmer, two of our children swam at county
standard and now work part-time as lifeguards. They did not get there by an
occasional trip to Butlins at Minehead!
Oh, just to add to the travel costs to your "Local" pool, First Group have just
announced increases in bus fares (1/9/2008)
Just to let you know that I am writing to Helen Holland, Jan Ormondroyd, John
House, Terry Cook (Neighbourhood Partnerships), Rosalie Walker (exec member of
culture and healthy communities executive) and Stephen Wray (Head of Culture
and Leisure) about Jubilee and will be using the strength of feeling expressed
in this forum as evidence of the desire for a local amenity. Can't guarantee
anything, but will keep this body informed.
If any of you wish to join a working group on leisure issues, let me know and
I'll add you to an email group.
Angela Piccini
Chair, Brislington Community Partnership
Hi Angela, great idea would definitely be interested in the working group.
I think one of the main issues surrounding Jubilee is that now the council seem
certain its going to close and move to Hengrove, money will not be invested to
improve standards.
If we manage to keep Jubilee open would the council be prepared to update and
improve the standards?
Perhaps we could arrange for a petition to be signed? Im quite happy to get
signatures.
I would definitely like to get involved in saving our local pool. I moved to
Brislington last year and me and my family have used the pool regularly since
the day we arrived. It is a fantastic building and a wonderful pool. I spend
a lot of time in swimming pools as I run my own swim school and absolutely love
the Jubilee pool. The temperature is perfect. The shape / size perfect. I
have tried lots of pools but always return to the Jubilee.
The Jubilee pool provides local residents with a fantastic facility for all
ages to learn to swim and keep fit. The reason people go to the pool I believe
is because it's on the door step. My partner doesn't drive so he certainly
wouldn't be able to take our son swimming every Sunday morning as he does now.
We MUST save this pool. I have absolutely no experience in campaigning to local
government. Is there anything we can do?
I'm still waiting for a response on Jubilee Pool from City officers. In terms
of campaigning, contacting the press may be useful in this regard. However,
this did not save Bristol North Baths with its huge grassroots support
network.None the less, government policy is currently favouring local amenities
and we are meant to be reducing carbon footprints, etc. The City will argue
that it does not have the funds to refit Jubilee with a new heating system. In
this economic climate I am sure that this is so. At the same time, any PFI
(private finance initiative) relationship between a big developer and the City
to build Hengrove is likely to be jeopardised by the current state of affairs.
I can foresee a year down the road Hengrove lying abandoned, half-built, with a
developer in receivership and the City out of pocket. Investing in Jubliee
would appear to be the more sensible financial risk.
For those interested in issues around leisure, I'm trying to organise a meeting
on Sat, 4 Oct, 10.30am, location tbc (perhaps Bocabar on Bath Road for coffees
and cakes?). It would be good to all meet and plan some concrete actions on
this one.
All best
Angela
I share Angela's sentiments. A local residents group lobbying councillors who need to cut public spending and see the pool as a prime opportunity is likely to be unsuccessful. The Government currently has a programme that's designed to help transfer public assets to communties. The sorts of assets transfered are those that are in need to repair and redevelopment. A local community group is often the best vehicle for this - see this link on IDeA's website http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=7314589 As i understand it, swimming pools have been transfered under this programme & BCC are listed under the Development Trust Assoc pages http://www.dta.org.uk/activities/campaigns/communityassets/cap.htm In terms of rejuvinating the site, I have expertise in energy & funding and could identify available grant pots for a heating system powered by renewables. So I suggest we simply ask the council to hand the swimming pool over to some people that do want it! Sarah - I am trying to teach my toddler to swim at the moment, I go to Longwell Green as they have a toddler pool but I would definitely attend Jubilee if there were swim lessons for little ones. Longwell Green's swim babes is booked up fully & they failed to write our name down when we registered her at 1 month - so I am now the worst swim instructor in town
Hi, in principle I'm on your side but can I add a slightly different
perspective to this debate. I went to Jubilee Pool yesterday for the first
time. I love swimming and swim almost every week in other pools in the city,
however because of reading your posts on this forum and catching the strength
of feeling some of you have about keeping the pool open, I went to Jubilee
instead.
I found it was really really dirty. The changing rooms were dirty, thick with
dust and hair. The bottom of the pool was disgusting (the lifeguard said there
was some problem with the filter and finding time to do the filtering) and as I
was swimming I found a couple of balls of black hair that I had to swim past.
Then I went to shower and the shower I was in stayed on for a 3-5 seconds
before I had to press the button again (the other shower was better but someone
was in it) and the lady in the other shower said to me "have you been down to
the toilets, have you seen the state of them".
I am a long distance swimmer and would prefer a larger, longer pool but I don't
mind compromising on factors like that if I can support a local ammenity.
However dare I suggest that not all problems need funding and finance, some
might need better management of what's there now to encourage people to return.
I hope this contributes to your debate so that in saving the pool you can
ensure that management and inspection are not just left at current standards.
All the best.
Hi Ali, That sounds awful. I found a review online from July 2007 complimenting
the pool on how clean all the facilities were.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the baths were deliberately being run down, as there
were be an uproar if they wanted to shut perfectly acceptable, nice clean
pools.
Sarah - as a regular at Jubilee how do you find the facilities?
Just to add to the potential for community-run pools, I've been made aware of Calne Leisure Centre. Calne Leisure Action Group (CLAG) is a group of local residents and business professionals who formed to rescue the Calne Leisure Centre. The group has been granted license to run the centre from North Wilts District Council (NWDC). See <http://www.calneleisurecentre.co.uk/view.php/page/about> for more information. So, it's definitely possible. As Chair of the Brislington Community Partnership I'd favour something like this, but cannot take a lead in organising as I've got my hands full with a full-time job and with trying to sort out Wicklea and other priorities. However, I would be keen to be active in the plans for this, if one of you might be able to lead the process? We've got that 4 October meeting earmarked - I'd like to confirm Bocabar - so hope to see some of you there with big ideas!
Hello! I will be there on 4th. Had a look at the CLAG website, all sounds good.
What about the groups in Knowle? How are they getting on?
Would it be possible to get someone from the CLAG group to come along to point
us in the right direction?
Best Wishes
Sorry can't make the meeting tomorrow but keen to know how it goes. I'm sending this link http://www.portisheadopenairpool.org.uk/ to the newly created website about the campaign to save Portishead pool now actually closed. You'll see there's space to add information about other campaigns such as Jubilee? Strength in numbers? Hope tomorrow goes well Rosie
I think the Calne Leisure Action Group (CLAG) approach is the only way forward
for Jubilee Pool. The council are unlikely to listen to residents (or large
numbers of them) calling for it to stay open as they are clearly trying to cut
costs and see the new planned pools as a viable alternative.
Hi Rosie, the meeting is this Saturday at 10.30 at Bocobar not tomorrow.