Forum Topic

Gurnell Leisure Centre

So - what are your thoughts on how Gurnell Leisure Centre should be improved?

Felicity Sandford ● 4274d16 Comments

Here's what was happening back in 2008 (I can't find the London Pools Campaign's website any more):http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/the-london-pools-campaignLBE's pools:Northolt Swimarama closed in 2007 and new pool opened in 2011  Now called Northolt Leisure Centre - just as well because no-one could ever spell Swimarama.Acton Baths closed in 2011 and new pools just opened (2014)Dormers Wells - don't know the condition of this Gurnell - Ealing's 'flagship' leisure centre.  I believe the 50m pool was Olympic standard when it opened but don't think it is now.  (Not enough lanes/not wide enough lanes?) It is home to Ealing Swimming club - the UK's largest swimming club.  ESC has pooltime at all the pools.Swimmers have had to move around during the rebuilding of the pools while ESC looked for pooltime. So there must have been quite a bit of movement to other boroughs eg H&F.I think that I read somewhere a figure of about £20 million for the Acton development.  Acton Baths was built/opened in 1904 and was much loved.  Newer buildings haven't fared so well.Now that the pools are no longer managed by the Council it isn't as easy to pinpoint what is the responsibility of the Council and what is the responsibility of the managing company.  A clean and comfortable environment is obviously needed to keep customers visiting a centre - although I notice you got some other useful feedback on here.Gurnell used to be really good for swimming parties for small children.  Good luck and I admire your proactivity!  The British are just too good at voting with their feet so I hope you get lots of feedback by finding out why people leave or aren't as happy as they could be.

Philippa Bond ● 4251d

Actually Gurnell have given me a free holiday swimming course voucher for all 'my feedback' :-)In terms of the you 'get what you pay for' argument I'd argue it isn't all that cheap at £47 per month membership or nearly £7 for each swim.Phillipa - Yes I am a 135 group member - I'm on the committee actually. That was my next avenue although I have of course mentioned my position with 135 when speaking to Gurnell. In any case I met Chris the manager there last Tuesday. I think he's doing his best with the limited power he has.  2 or 3 new children's showers will be put into each changing room and they are going to re-tile the showers as they're so grubby. A new cleaner has been appointed for the changing rooms in peak time. New signage has been put up in the pool area for class meeting points. They're also employing a kind of customer relations person to walk around the pool area helping people get to the right class, looking up feedback on the Better system for children's progress, answer questions etc. They're also employing an extra life-guard who will spend part of their time helping keep the pool area and changing rooms clean. He's looking at some vending machines to be put into the spectators' gallery as a cafe is out of the question. Receptionists have been sent on customer service and product knowledge training (already an improvement there although the one I asked a question about my daughter's swimming lesson got the answer completely wrong!) There's only so much he can do of course without the support of Better and/ or the council. Interestingly he revealed to me that the building needs a new roof in the next couple of years at the cost of £1,000,000 and yet he's been told Gurnell will be torn down and rebuilt in 5 to 10 years. Am I the only one who thinks it sounds like a crazy waste of public money to not just bring the new building forward rather than spend over £1 million patching it up for a few years beforehand. Chris the manager there thinks it's madness too!So .... all in all a pretty good start which I'm quite pleased with. I'm not expecting miracles - though perhaps I'm from a place (south Wales) where public leisure centres are a damn site better (Cardiff has an amazing swimming pool in the centre for example) and therefore don't have this 'oh what else can you expect' approach. The Olympics were all about a sports legacy for our children. All talk from what it would appear as don't see much of one yet!

Felicity Sandford ● 4252d

Holiday crash courses can be very worthwhile.You could also take a look at swimming clubs.

Philippa Bond ● 4257d

I remember this happening at Acton.  It was a raid.  A car drew into the car park opposite the pool, all doors opened, and a full complement of traffic wardens got out.This was obviously set up to catch people who had parked just before the parking became free in the evening - or had lingered just a little too long leaving with their kids from the early evening sessions.

Philippa Bond ● 4257d

Felicity has lots of support via FB I believe. I guess I have always treated it as a place where you get what you pay for - £20 is all I pay so I don't have any expectations of the leisure centre. It provides decent swimming lessons for my son, and I have swum there myself. I dislike the communal changing area and the womens changing area.  The open showers are a pain and cleanliness overall isn't great.  Once my sons has learnt to swim we will travel elsewhere for our swimming pleasure!

Diane Gill ● 4258d

I notice the Swimming Pools page on the LBE website isn't up to date and needs attention and correction.  Gurnell is supposed to be Ealing's flagship leisure centre isn't it?Ealing Swimming Club is a major user of Gurnell and you may find further support from amongst their membership.  The Club needs to maintain a good relationship with GLL (are they still running Gurnell?) and LBE but even so griping members won't make for a happy Club. You mentioned Netmums (which didn't exist and/or I didn't have a computer when my child was small) but are you also a member of Ealing 135? That might be another way to find support.

Philippa Bond ● 4260d

I was actually referring to what was known as Acton Baths - which has just reopened after being rebuilt - they are still sorting out their timetables. It is on the E3 bus route.https://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/e3/http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200860/sports_and_leisure_centres/1091/everyone_active_acton_centreHowever I do applaud you for taking the trouble to do something about your disappointments with Gurnell.  I think that there are problems with the design of the building which has meant that it hasn't all been utilised as well as it might have been - and I don't think that the big pool is still up to Olympic standard which I think it was when it was built.  I also remember there being problems with the boom.We used to go swimming there occasionally with a small child and to occasional swimming parties there (and hosted one).  It was easier travelwise and more comfortable to go to swimming lessons at Brentford Fountains or Acton.  It depends on where you live, what is available and who you are going with etc etc.At Fountains we used to stay for a baked potato supper afterwards but I'm not sure that that is still available now they have reorganised the cafe area.  Each pool had its pros and cons.Maintenance or lack of it seems to be a problem everywhere.

Philippa Bond ● 4260d

Yes agree Diane - for me it is really the only choice as well as I don't drive and refuse to pay Virgin Active all that money (I used to be a member of the Ealing one any and never found it amazingly good for the money)Gurnell have promised some improvements after pressure from me, Ealing Today who published the story 2 weeks ago and Mumsnet Ealing - plus two councillors who took up the issue with me. Time will tell - basically I think Better Leisure are not interested in improvements just making as much money as possible for as little investment as possible.

Felicity Sandford ● 4260d

Gurnell is the nearest. I have to take my son to beavers after so we have half n hour turnaround to get to Ealing Broadway! Hence this is the most convenient.

Diane Gill ● 4268d

A lot of us south of the Uxbridge Road found/find it easier not to try to cross it but instead go (and take our children for lessons) to the Acton pool or Fountains Leisure Centre at Brentford.

Philippa Bond ● 4269d

For us parents I'm afraid we have to use Gurnell as this is the only place nearby that can accommodate swimming lessons for our children.  I had to cancel my Virgin Active membership as I couldn't afford to pay £70 per month plus they wanted an extra £15 per month when my son turned 5. And the cost of lessons was on top of this!  Gurnell is £20 per month for swimming. Personally I have used the place for yoga in the past and it has been good on an ad hoc basis. And as far as swimming lessons go you can manage everything online so you don't need to talk to anyone there!

Diane Gill ● 4269d

I joined up last year and cancelled after one month.The reasons why I cancelled were:-No proper gym instructors in the gym. There is no motivation or incentive. They encourage you to sign up and then the moment you join, you are forgotton about.customer service is appaling.no proper security. anyone can just walk in as barriers are left open.classes are so overfull, sometimes as many as 35 people and it is so difficult for a beginner to try and follow. They need to schedule more classes.Previously if you rang the gurnell telephone number, if you wanted to know what classes were running, you would press number 4 on the keypad, but now if you press number 4 for the classes, a message says, please go on line. so if you dont have a computer, you cant check what classes are running.They need to employ more professional staff who are qualified and not just school leavers who cannot read or write.lastly the management are a bunch of 20 year olds with no managerial skills.

ashley rani ● 4271d

The pool would definitely need a deep clean if someone were to push them and their ruddy mopeds in!

Nigel Brooks ● 4272d

Maybe they were going for an early swim??

Pamela Kay ● 4272d

I have no views on how it can be improved as I haven't used the place for at least 20 years. Maybe more.But I do drive past it every day and was really pi**ed off to see this morning, at 730, traffic wardens on mopeds going into the car park. Seriously, is this what our Borough is about ?

Bud Richards ● 4274d

The swimming pool area needs disinfecting, followed by a daily deep clean regime and a personal hygiene education campaign for some of its users.

Tom Carroll ● 4274d