Members comments in support of the urgent need for more warm pools:
March 2010
Carol Liddiard - Lee-on-the-Solent
I really do feel very strongly that your proposal for a pool complex is excellent and I hope you are successful in getting the permission you need. Speaking from personal experience, the benefits that Tristan has enjoyed over the last two years have been phenominal. Swimming and having games and exercises in the pool has helped to release his inhibitions and allowed the Downs to overcome the Autism. I am convinced that this can only have been achieved in the small private pool environment, so that Tristan can enjoy himself with no worries about crowds of people intimidating him. When we first started, his speech was very restricted and very quiet, but now he speaks out loud and initiates his own choices of games in the pool and initiates his own conversation. I am quite sure that the complex you propose would benefit so many people with all kinds of problems (or not) and, as far as I am aware, be a unique facility in the South.
February 2010
Mrs N Bright and Mrs E Nash - Gosport
We enjoy swimming in this pool as itis nice and private and smaller and more relaxing than a larger pool. Also from our own point of view we can't use large pools during the school holidays.
January 2010
Mr & Mrs Hayes - Fareham
There is an urgent need for hydro therapy pools to undertake activities that cannot be achieved at large leisure pools. These pools are of great benefit to people like ourselves with limb and muscular problems particularly now since Haslar Hospital's Hydrotherapy Pool has closed.
H Reader - Lee-on-the-Solent
This pool is a fantastic facility. I have now been coming for 3 months and wish I'd found it sooner. Fareham Leisure centre is just too inconvenient - can take 30-60 mins to get there depending on traffic. We are hoping to bring the children here as Fareham Leisure Centre is too cool for small children and too noisy.
J Hewson & B Hewson
There are endless benefits to making use of a smaller Bathing Pool. Rehabilitation, therapy sessions cannot be managed in a large open pool. This facility greatly encourages exercise for all types including nervous swimmers. We would not consider using a leisure centre.
Gemma Dixon (swimming Teacher) Fareham
We need more small, friendly, private pools. I am a swimming teacher and teach people who are frightened of water - the adults and kids I teach enjoy this pool because it is warm, small and quiet.
Kate Weston - Stubbington
I have 2 children under 14months. The facilities at Fareham leisure centre changing rooms simply dont allow for us to go there. By the time I could they would be much older and miss out on the important formative years.
Mrs Dawson - Gosport
Small pools enable younger children to build confidence in the water before more formal swimming lessons. The small pool offers a quieter, warmer and less crowded opportunity.
Mrs Muscroft – Hillhead and Mrs Roach Lee-on-the-Solent
We like the clean showers, warm pool and intimacy of a small pool for exercise, relaxation and well-being.
P A Luckham, P L Gunner, P Lane , Y Avery – Ladies Healthy Eating Group Fareham
Facilities for small groups of elderly like us and families are inadequate in many areas. Hydrotherapy is essential for older and youngest swimmers and for disabled people.
G Smalley – Gosport
Small pools provide a much-needed private and more flexible service than the community pools, which don’t help people who need a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere or one to one tuition.
Carol Burnley, Pauline Biddiss, Helen Boyes, Wendy Longhurst - Fareham
Small pool is ideal for ladies wanting to swim in semi private areas. It’s nice not to have to share with all age groups and abilities when you don’t have the confidence.
Jean Ayliffe -- Stubbington
Agree with all the above, also nice to have warm water not cold as some council facilities tend to be colder and. not good for arthritis
Kathryn Wood – Stubbington
Due to lack of confidence I would not swim in local authority pools with children jumping in, and water too deep. Like to feel the bottom of the pool where ever I am.
Sarah and Mike James –Lee-on-the-Solent
Convenient as close to us to visit, very warm, less crowded. We come as a family every week and that is something we look forward too.
Alison & Simon Brodyen – Fareham
Our Children thrive in this small pool environment it is less intimidating for young learners and more cost effective way of having one to one or two to one tuition.
Mr R Shaw - Lee-on-the-Solent
A nerve in my back was severely damaged in the Operating Theatre late November. My thigh has been completely numb. I have been off work ever since. Physiotherapy stated gentle swimming is excellent. I would not tolerate Holbrook or Fareham. When I discussed your pool with my physio (DDB in Lee), the physio knew of your pool and stated it was ideal (warm and personal).
Mrs R Stephen - Gosport
I like the clean well run pool and do not like BIG centre where the showers are always broken and dirty.
A Lethern-Palmer - Gosport
With an aging population, it is important to consider their needs. Many of the aged, and also the young suffer from ongoing muscoseeletal problems which limit movement: which mean that a convential pool is difficult too use and potentially unsafe. facilities like the bathing pool provide a safe and appriate place to do ongoing exercise, which unfortunately the NHS cannot offer.
Elsa Hunter - Rowner, Gosport
The bathing Pool is an valuable asset to older swimmers and disabled swimmers/ non swimmers as it gives confidence and helps manoeuvrability in the elderly. Something you cannot find in municipal pools, with all ages.
T P Streatfeild-James - Gosport
The pool operated by Mr Brook White is in many ways ideal and has been of huge benefit to my wife, who is recovering from a stroke and to a much younger friend after a knee replacement. The benefit of this facility to the community and the NHS is significant.
Barbara Hosie - Stubbington
This pool is an excellent facility. Larger leisure centre pools do not offer the same opportunities for all the less able, those unable to swim.
Gill Butt - Stubbington
This is a wonderful way to get access to exercise when physically weak. A large pool would be too much to handle with the hip problems myself and my friend have.