NEWS STA LAUNCH FREE NEW SCHOOL SWIMMING PROGRAMME STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association) has launched a free new teaching programme for schools to help providers meet national curriculum standards while ensuring learners are water confident. The School Swimming programme, which features eight achievement awards, aims to improve the quality and standard of school swimming lessons, and uniquely incorporates key lifesaving and water safety skills at every stage of the programme. It has been created by STA as a standalone, bespoke programme so that it does not impact upon or conflict with what learners achieve in their private swim lessons outside of school. For transparency, there are however, clear links to the STA’s International Learn to Swim Programme, Scottish Swimming levels as well as the National Curriculum key stage requirements. Claire Brisbourne, STA’s Operations Director said it not only meets national curriculum requirements in relation to strokes and distances, it will also uniquely ensure that children are water confident by introducing key lifesaving and water safety skills at every stage of the programme.
EVERYONE ACTIVE SECURES SOUTHWARK CONTRACT Everyone Active has beaten off stiff competition from a number of rival operators to land an initial seven-year contract as Southwark Council’s Sports and Leisure services partner. The win marks a significant blow for rival operator Fusion Lifestyle, which had held the contract since 2000. Everyone Active were selected following a ‘blind’ procurement process, in which the council chose a new provider based on what individual services could be provided. The contract comprises eight leisure centres in Southwark, including the new £20m Castle Centre. Fusion will hand over to Everyone Active towards the end of June, with existing staff transferring to the new provider.
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 15-17_SPN_June_16_News_General.indd 15
Olympic Centre Benefits From Ceramiflo Pool Filtration Although new to the UK market, Ceramiflo filtration systems (manufactured by Provital of Denmark) have been successfully used in many pools across Scandinavia and further afield, including at the Ankerskogen Svømmehal Olympic Centre in Norway – the largest public leisure centre in the country. Completed back in 2013, the primary reason that Ceramiflo was selected as the filtration system for the construction of the six-pool Olympic Swimming Centre was the low consumption of water and energy compared to traditional solutions. The fully automated backwash uses 80% less water than traditional backwashing and does not require a backwash holding tank. In addition, the plantroom footprint required for Ceramiflo is more than 30% less than for sand filters, providing a significant saving on construction costs, and maximising revenue generating floor space. The Ceramiflo system installed had 44 ceramic membranes in total, providing a capacity in excess of 1,300 cubic metres of water per hour. Serving six pools, including 50 and 25 metre Olympic pools and two therapy pools, the modular system provides operational flexibility, whilst the option to monitor online remotely saves on operation and maintenance staffing costs. “We believe this project demonstrates a willingness in the industry to move toward the
more environmentally friendly solutions. The Provital system will save a lot of water, energy and chemicals and more importantly the water quality is better and due to the reduced need for chlorine the environment for the users and staff is better. Using less water is also an important environmental argument which is very important for us,” said Jonny Mörch, CEO of ENWA ABC Tech. after the project was completed. The new Ceramiflo microfiltration system is now available in the UK exclusively through Total Pool Filtration. Total Pool Filtration 01829 740290 www.totalpoolfiltration.uk
UK’s Second Oldest Outdoor Pool Reopens Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool reopened in May following a £750,000 refurbishment and investment in new facilities. The works, which included new changing facilities, meeting rooms, an office and housing for the pool’s pump and heating machinery represent Phase One of redevelopment works at the 147 year old public swimming pool. Originally built in 1869, the heated pool is used annually by more than 20,000 people and run by a small group of volunteers and trustees. The pool, which is closely linked to the local community, is fed by natural spring water from an on site well, which has been revealed and covered with a glass top as part of the works, allowing visitors to see the source of the water. The further planned works (which is hoped will be completed during the 2016/2017 winter season should an additional £160,000 of funding be sourced) will include solar panels, disabled access ramps and pool covers. Mike Cutts, Chairman of Cirencester Open Air Pool commented: “The initial work was made possible through the hard work of our volunteers and the generosity of several local organisations. We are lucky that one particularly supportive local donor provided a
significant percentage of the funds needed, allowing the project to go ahead. The new changing rooms and facilities were a much needed change to the pool. Our old facilities were becoming harder and more expensive to maintain and the work we have undertaken will ensure another 100 years of use and pleasure for both local residents and visitors to Cirencester.”
SPN June 2016 15 24/05/2016 21:25