17/6/2008Culture And Sport take over our leisure centres, ( community centres, & libraries) But at what cost ?
Scotstoun Leisure Centre has had mounting problems with the level of facilities on offer to the public.
This most recent incident at the leisure centre has not been the first time the level of service is affected, and public - customer confidence in Scotstoun Leisure Centre must surely be reduced, if these kinds of maintainence failures are anything to go by.
Only recently 3 pumps failed within the main pool, meaning it was closed all day Wed 11th June.
Again today (Tuesday 17th June) a mains water supply was cut through by contractors on site, building what is to be the new fixed stands, (Pre 2014) overlooking the running track & athletics area.
...........
The impact may have lasted 8 hours, but in that time the water supply being cut impacted on:
The main pool - [bold]CLOSED.[/bold]
The teaching pool -[bold] CLOSED.[/bold] The health suite (Sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, toilets, showers, and solarium.) -[bold] CLOSED.[/bold]
The sinks, showers, toilets generally, and
the Cafe's mains water supply.
...........
With customers still being allowed in, and charged for the gym, tennis etc when the only toilets were within the Badminton Acadamy, in a separate building - this could have amounted to a health and safety issue.
..............
and . . . a wide range of other areas, and facilities have been affected by breakages waiting to be fixed.
i.e. toilets, hairdryers, showers, steam room, the jacuzzi, lights, lockers, all broken, the list goes on.
.............
Culture And Sport taking over and its alleged change in how funding is allocated, clearly is not working to the customers satisfaction, and advantage. Also, with the approaching 2014 Commonwealth Games, which are seeing attentions focussed elsewhere, and the management committee less interested in general maintainence, and more interested in the planning and building programme in the build up to 2014.
...............
It all paints a poor picture of the way our "Culture And Sport" leisure centres are being neglected generally, and the time scale of maintainence work being carried out is becoming unacceptably long.
Yet, they have the cheek to ask us to pay higher amounts for admission to the sports within them.
..................
Perhaps it is time questions were asked, and more transparency was given over just how this new body of "Culture And Sport" is being run, managed, and funded - and just how its budget differs ( if at all) to before our Leisure Centres, Libraries and Community Centres all seemed to switch over so quickly.
.....................
Finally we see criticism of "Culture And Sport" with their inadequate management, and running of our citys leisure facilities..... The full picture is hardly something that Glasgow, and its people should be proud of pre - 2014. ...................................... Thankfully the latest story printed in the E.T. "Water load of rubbish" ( Friday 4th July "08") has acknowleged the failings of "Culture and Sport" accross the board, with not just Scotstoun Leisure Centre, but Pollok Pool, Gorbals, Easterhouse, and Donald Dewar Centre, in Drumchapel. . . . See: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2379066.0.0.php ...................................... I would also be interested to know if "Culture and Sports" Executive Director, Bridget McConnell and other Culture and Sport non-elected Board members readily use "Culture and Sport" swimming pools ? As I suspect, that many like: The Right Honourable Norman Somerville Macfarlane, Baron of Bearsden, KT, DL ; Sir Angus Grossart (Sir Angus is worth a relatively modest £60 million.) ; Lord Stevenson of Coddenham (Lord Stevenson is one of the richest men in Scotland.) and others wouldn't go near a "Culture and Sport" formerly Glasgow City Council leisure centre. One standard / ruling for them, and another for us the meer public. ................................................