HARLOW: Pool closure spells problems for club

3:54pm Wednesday 26th September 2007

THE temporary closure of Harlow Pool has had a financuial impact on Harlow Penguins.

The club has been forced to contact some 300 entrants to its Open Meet, and return their cheques, and is seeing a loss of income as a result of the enforced closure while Harlow Council brings in specialists to look at various aspects of the building.

A Harlow Penguins spokesman said: "We're grateful that we had two weeks to organise this cancellation and that the council has agreed to us booking a new date once the pool reopens. Nevertheless there has been a financial impact on the club due to the loss of income and several thousand pounds of expenses incurred printing cards, programmes and buying trophies."

the club has made alternative arrangements at Haileybury, Burnt Mill and Leventhorpe and asks its swimmers to check the club's website each day for updates on any additional pool time which has been arranged.

A spokesman added: "Young swimmers and beginners will be well catered for at these pools. However we have only been able to secure about half the amount of pool time normally provided to our top swimmers. "Harlow Penguins Swimming Club has several Essex and eastern region champions and also some swimmers who qualify for the national championships.

"These swimmers need to train in a 25m pool, which some of the schools do not provide. The long-term impact on their swimming careers cannot be known until it is confirmed when the pool will reopen."

He added: "We're confident of being able to take steps to ensure the long-term survival of the club. Nevertheless the impact on our present squad swimmers is extremely upsetting. We're doing our best to minimize this.

"Our swimmers are bravely committed to Essex League and National Speedo competitions this side of Christmas. However January sees the start of the Essex County Championships and without the necessary training, and if the pool remains closed, further competition and success this season is doubtful."

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