NEWS

IN BRIEF DERBYSHIRE LEISURE CENTRE GIVEN £1.5M TO BE GREENER £1.5m is being invested into a leisure centre in Derbyshire to help it become the ‘greenest’ of its type in the area. Eckington Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre is aiming to slash its carbon emissions by 66%. The project supports the council’s efforts to decarbonise energy sources in public buildings to achieve net zero by 2030. This includes the use of solar panel technology, replacing gas powered boilers with air source heat pumps and a new air handling system that will improve air quality and will increase the temperatures in the pool hall for customers in the building.

POOL RESTRICTIONS REMOVED AS PART OF PILOT SCHEME Pre-booking in Northern Ireland’s South Lakes Leisure Centre main pool in Craigavon is to be removed as part of a local pilot scheme, it has been revealed. Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council is also to reduce social distancing to one metre as part of the pilot scheme at the £35m centre. There had been complaints that people had been unable to book slots at the pool, but despite appearing fully booked, many swimmers didn’t turn up leaving empty lanes and irrate customers. The system had been introduced as the COVID-19 restrictions eased and the new leisure centre was able to open officially. In spite of the significant challenges posed by the pandemic, South Lakes Leisure Centre welcomed an average of 66,500 visitors during June and July alone. The council advised the changes, which came into effect in mid August, via a statement on social media.

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 4+7+9+10_SPN_Aug_21_News_General.indd 9

Prestigious UK Water Fountain Specialist Specifies Waterco With rooftop views of London and Wembley Stadium, Canada Gardens is set to become one of the city’s most coveted residential precincts. Comprising of seven buildings and a podium garden, the development provides over 700 residential apartments as well as amenity space and ground floor uses. Part of the impressive masterplan is a series of landscaped outdoor areas, designed for residents to meet, relax, exercise and play. The project’s main building contractor was Dublin-based Sisk Group while the various water features were sub-contracted to UK-based Fountains Direct Ltd, one of the most successful companies of its type. Fountains Direct Managing Director Nick Roberts, who has specified Waterco for more than two decades, proposed five separate water features to complement the development’s architectural character. These included: • A water play feature and fountain – 33m3 volume of water • Two water feature cascade pools – 21m3 and 28m3 total water volume • Main fountain pools – 330m3 total water volume • A 7m cascading waterfall and pool – 4m3 total water volume • A children’s play pool – 7m3 total water volume.

“Waterco’s range is terrific and the quality consistently high, which complements the other equipment we use,” explained Nick. Waterco Europe CEO Tony Fisher commented that prestigious projects rely on high-quality filtration and circulation equipment to maintain public safety and a professional reputation. “Peace of mind is needed when reputable companies like Fountains Direct attach their name to landmark developments like Canada Gardens,” he explained. “Confidence in the supply, quality of the product and after sales service is reinforced with Waterco’s 30-year plus manufacturing history and base in the UK.”

A range of Waterco equipment was utilised across each, including sand filters, EcoPure Glass Media, MultiCyclones, Hydrostar pumps

Waterco Europe 01795 521733 www.waterco.eu

Olympian And All Blacks Legend Back New Swimming Centre A new concept in community swimming will be launched in Lichfield when a former retail unit is transformed to house a 25-metre pool as part of a push to get the UK fit after the Covid pandemic. All Blacks rugby legend Zinzan Brooke and Team GB Olympics swimmer Abbie Wood have got behind plans to turn the empty store at Lichfield Retail Park, into Swim House, the first in a series of openings planned to take place nationwide. The plans, being shaped by community interest company Swim House Lichfield CIC, will see a former Carpetright premises become home to a three-lane pool for swimming lessons and leisure. Up to 13 new jobs are expected to be created with the opening of the centre, which will be used for a mix of formal swimming lessons, leisure classes and community uses.

The Swim House will boast a dry training facility, rehab pool, physio access and a café space. A baby pool, a viewing gallery and Covidsafe changing rooms are among the other features of the centre, which Swim House Leisure expect to be the first of dozens to be established across the UK. Abbie said: “It is exciting to see the Swim House concept taking shape. It appeals to me as Swim House offers a positive environment where young swimmers can learn so I was pleased to visit to see the plans are heading in the right direction. “A year of swimming has been disrupted due to Covid, with many young people missing the chance to learn. Hopefully, Swim House can get people back in the pool and enjoying swimming.”

SPN August 2021 9 30/08/2021 15:06