Free Swimming - But Where to Go? PPC Seeff Condemns Lack of Pool Provision.

7.27.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jun 2008

Whilst welcoming last week's Government announcement that charges for the use of municipal pools were to be scrapped for under 16s and over 60s as part of its Olympic Games legacy commitment, Dr Geoffrey Seeff, the Liberal Democrat's parliamentary spokesman for Chingford and Woodford Green, strongly criticised both Redbridge and Waltham Forest councils for the paucity of provision of swimming amenities for the 80,000 residents of the constituency. Within its boundaries there is a small community pool, Larkswood Leisure Centre, in New Road Chingford but the nearest alternatives, Fullwell Cross baths at Barkingside and the Walthamstow Pool and Track are outside the constituency and considerable distances from the northern wards. Accessibility is clearly a problem for those aged under 16 or over 60 - the Government's target groups - a high proportion of whom have to rely on public transport.

Geoff is particularly angry that Redbridge Council missed an opportunity to develop, or better to have procured through a section 106 agreement, a community pool at Queen Mary's Gate, South Woodford and is scathing about its proposal for an Olympic sized pool in Seven Kings. He believes this £40 million plus project is unnecessary in view of the fact that the Aquacentre at the Olympic Park will be for available championship swimmers within a few years. He comments "Regardless of its size, unless the pool is supported by the type of transport connections presently being created at Stratford, it will only serve a limited catchment. Further, there is bound to be contention for use between the local community and swimmers in serious training. A community pool there and two additional pools suitably located in the Chingford and Woodford Green constituency would be a more appropriate use of public funds".

Geoff Seeff preparing for his daily dip

Geoff, who was a member of the early morning brigade at the now closed Valentines Park open air pool open (see attached cutting from the Ilford Recorder, April 1968) and still swims, albeit a little slower, a kilometre three or four times a week, says the failure to provide proper swimming facilities for children is nothing less than a crime. "Firstly, it denies them the simple pleasure of just splashing around in water; secondly, it denies them what is probably the most effective means for them to get and stay fit; thirdly, and most importantly, they are denied the opportunity to learn to swim well, which ability may one day save their own life or that of another".

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Valentines Park Swimming Pool April 1968.