"Do Not Swim!"

 

Here are the signs that have just been put up on the Warren.  

With the news that the Warren had been granted bathing status came the requirement that the water was tested by the local authority - and they have immediately discovered that there is bacteria in the water which makes it unsafe for bathing.

Hopefully, they will now do something about it, by which I mean finding the source of the bacteria and stopping it from coming into the river, not just putting signs up.

Some people have been continuing to swim anyway, but it is at their own risk, now that they know the dangers.  Just off this picture to the left were some people sunbathing on the beach, and a couple of people paddling - and I passed a very wet dog on the path on the way down.

There were two pairs of swans on the river too, which is more than I've seen for a long time.

Swimming in Hay

 Gareth Ratcliffe has been on Facebook in the last week thanking all the volunteers who turned up to help to renovate the swimming pool.  They've found people who are willing to be trustees of the pool, and a core group of volunteers to help to run the pool.  However, they still need help with some work around the pool, such as installing PVC doors in the changing rooms, and a new fire door.  They also need help with completing painting jobs, and sanding doors for painting, as well as dealing with a leak in the changing room roof.  They are hoping to reopen soon!

Meanwhile, at the Seven Stars, new health and safety rules mean that their pool cannot be hired out to people swimming on their own - there must be at least two people there.  Treby Swingler posted on the Hay on Wye Community Facebook page to say that they are thinking of setting up a WhatsApp group to pair up solo swimmers.  This may be on a permanent or ad hoc basis, or for people who haven't been before and want to try it out to share a slot.

News from the Swimming Pool Meeting

 I wasn't able to go to the meeting, but I did see the post about it on Gareth Ratcliffe's Facebook page (the Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe News and Updates page).

It seems there is support for the swimming pool to re-open, but the upgrading of the facilities will be expensive, and what they really need are new trustees to carry the work forward.  They also need people who can help in the day to day running of the pool.

If anyone is able to help, they should email hayswimmingpool@gmail.com

Meanwhile the present trustees are looking into how much the various renovations will cost.

They are hoping to have another meeting on 29th February, so any interested parties are urged to contact them before the 19th February.

Hay Swimming Pool

 While I'm thinking about community sports facilities, Hay Swimming Pool needs help!

There will be a meeting on Wednesday 31st January, at 7pm at Hay School to discuss options for the future and hopefully to find new trustees.

The pool is 50 years old, and it needs major structural investments and refurbishment.  Originally it was built with a life span of 25 years in mind.  Particular problems are the wooden structure, and the pool ventilation system.

They also need volunteers to help clean and manage the pool, as well as trustees to run it.

If they can't get the help they need, the pool will have to close down completely.  It's already closed down as a temporary measure.

New Lining for the Pool

Good news for Hay Swimming Pool! They've very nearly got all of the £15,000 (plus VAT) that they need, and the swimming pool is being re-lined now. They hope to be fully operational again in November.
They want to continue fund raising so that they can continue to maintain the pool and the building.

Swimming Pool

I don't swim, (though in this weather I might be tempted to sit in the river!), but I know that Hay Swimming Pool is a well used asset to the town. The pool is used by around 400 people every week. Four local schools, including Hay School, use the pool for swimming lessons and other groups use the pool for private lessons, Splash and Play, Let's Get Swimming and Swimsanity.

And now they need some help.
A few years ago, the pool was repainted as a short term measure, but now it needs properly re-lining. This will cost about £15,000. The voluntary group which now runs the pool, Friends of Hay Swimming Pool, are applying for grants and they have set up a JustGiving page. They're also looking for fund-raising ideas, and will have a meeting in August to discuss this. One idea which is already going ahead is a Swimathon, organised by Roy of Let's Get Swimming. This will be held on 14th September, and the proceeds will be split between Hay Pool and A Stroke of Luck, which is a charity set up by Roy's son Craig, who suffered from a stroke at an early age. 14th September is also the date of the final school car boot sale of the season, so refreshments will be available too.

New School, No Pool

Gareth Ratcliffe has posted a letter on Facebook about the building of a new Hay School, and the future of the swimming pool which is in the present school.
Basically, it seems that the swimming pool doesn't have a future. There are no plans to include a pool in the new school buildings. Gareth was told this by the school - not the County Council (which he might have expected, being a county councillor).
Apparently, though, if the main entrance to the new school comes off the car park (as it is now) rather than Forest Road, this would bring the cost down enough to include a new pool.
The school pool has already been transferred from County Council control to local control, so the County Council can save money, and the local people running the pool have turned a £50,000 loss under the County Council into a surplus, so they can invest in the pool.
Teaching children to swim is a compulsary part of school life, and the next nearest pool is in Brecon, so retaining the pool, in a big, spread out county with a low population, is pretty important.
Gareth finishes his letter by saying:
"As local member I am consistently frustrated at Powys County Councils neglect of my community we have had to fight to keep services and run them ourselves and when we make them a success officers and lead members seem to want to punish us for succeeding where they can’t."