Brixton Rec pool to close for repairs (again!)

[lang rabbie]

Anyone planning to compensate for those festive season calories by lapping a few lengths should think again...

I think this means any redevelopment is a few years down the line.

Brixton Recreation swimming pool closes for repairs

The swimming pool at Brixton Recreation Centre will be closed on November 22nd until January 3rd 2005 so that essential maintenance work can be carried out. It will be re-tiled and the port hole lights will be completely sealed to stop the possibility of any leaks and closures in the future.

Lambeth Council and Leisure Connection would like to apologise to all pool users for any inconvenience caused and to assure the public that every effort has been made to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. The health and safety of customers is of paramount importance and it is our priority to ensure that the facilities are well maintained.

Pool users who have a membership card that includes swimming at Brixton will be able to use both Streatham and Clapham pools free of charge during the closure period. For more information call 020 7926 9787.

[hendo]

The pool closure is a pain. But there is no excuse for the lardy since the gym remains open.

[thetreehugger]

Logical time to do it really in that all leisure facilities experience heavily reduced visitor numbers in December due to most people being to busy getting phished and snogging under mistletoe to bother much with exercise.

The pool near my work (Ironmonger Row) is closed over the same period.

[William of Walworth]

Logical time to do it really in that all leisure facilities experience heavily reduced visitor numbers in December due to most people being to busy getting phished and snogging under mistletoe to bother much with exercise.

The pool near my work (Ironmonger Row) is closed over the same period.

"Reduced" At Xmas? Or any time of year? :D :p ;)

[Gramsci]

Does this mean the Council are changing their minds about closing it I wonder?

As someone who avoids Xmas i do get pissed off so much closes over that period.

[Ms Ordinary]

Logical time to do it really in that all leisure facilities experience heavily reduced visitor numbers in December due to most people being to busy getting phished and snogging under mistletoe to bother much with exercise.

The pool near my work (Ironmonger Row) is closed over the same period.

Agree if they have to close it, its probably the best time.

Hope it reopens in time for the post-New Year-exercise-surge though.

And its shame Ironmonger Row will be closed at the same time - I was planning a swim & steam session to make up for the Rec being closed :(
(v glad you mentioned it though, so I don't have to tote my togs up there for nothing)

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Arse. Where are the nearest other ones?

[Red Faction]

my dad was an architect who worked on building the rec
the builders really fucked up and made the pool 2 feet short of olympic standard.
grr @ fucked up pool

[lang rabbie]

my dad was an architect who worked on building the rec
the builders really fucked up and made the pool 2 feet short of olympic standard.
grr @ fucked up pool

A pedantic swimmer writes:

Presumably you meant ASA competition standard (25 metres)!

Even on the old ASA/British Swimming standards, Brixton Rec was never a "long course" (50metres) pool like Crysral Palace. Current FINA definitions of an "Olympic pool" require it to be 25metres wide :eek: by 50metres long by 2 metres deep, so there aren't any in Southern England.

There are some larger outdoor pools e.g. Tooting Bec Lido: 300'x 100' (90metres x 30metres).

[lang rabbie]

my dad was an architect who worked on building the rec


Can you ask him some time what level the main entrance was originally meant to be at - I've never been able to work out where any pedestrian bridge from the "grand plan" for Brixton would have met the building. The external staircase from Brixton Station Road has always looked like a temporary feature.

[Donna Ferentes]

Anyone planning to compensate for those festive season calories by lapping a few lengths should think again...How can you "lap" a "length"?

[Private Storm]

Not only is the pool closed, but when I asked to book a badminton court in the evening, they said the next availability was in 2005! If only I'd bought a leisure card, I'd be even more justified in being pissed off :mad: ;)

[lang rabbie]

How can you "lap" a "length"?

Lap n.
One complete length of a straight course, as of a swimming pool.

Hence "lap pool" - a swimming pool (normally with demarcated lanes) for swimmers swimming complete lengths, rather than a free for all leisure pool with some swimmers swimming widths and others splashing around.

[kea]

Lap n.
One complete length of a straight course, as of a swimming pool.


actually a lap is two lengths of a pool, ie. there and back.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=lap
"Sports. To get ahead of (an opponent) in a race by one or more complete circuits of the course, as in running, or by two or more lengths of pool in swimming."

[hendo]

A pedantic swimmer writes:

Presumably you meant ASA competition standard (25 metres)!


The real fuck up was building it on the first floor. Doh! It's amazing it stays up when you consider the weight the pool must be when it's full of water.

[lang rabbie]

Oh dear, I think I must have adopted the term "lapping" from American friends who used to swim laps at the rather splendid Payne Whitney gymnasium at Yale.

http://www.yale.edu/rowing/media/payne_whitney.jpg

(Anyone else fancy this design approach if the Rec does get redeveloped?)

Justin will no doubt see my adoption of Americanisms as evidence I am on the road to perdition, and about to start using "impact" as a verb. :o

While on the twin enthusiasms of swimming and pedantry, I make a point of always referring to "front crawl", just to annoy those competitive swimmers who obsessively refer to "freestyle" - even though it a competition class rather than a swimming stroke.

[kea]

is that really a swimming pool? :eek:

[IntoStella]

How can you "lap" a "length"?
:eek: :eek:

[lang rabbie]

is that really a swimming pool? :eek:

Yes - see Yale Bulldogs (Official Site of Yale University Athletics) (http://yalebulldogs.collegesports.com/facilities/facpwg.html)

[IntoStella]

The real fuck up was building it on the first floor. Doh! It's amazing it stays up when you consider the weight the pool must be when it's full of water. I try not to think about it.

Rabbie -- I suppose one advantage of swimming in what appears to be a cathedral is that if you started to drown, god might intervene.

I bet George Bush used to wee in that pool.

[Pie 1]

The real fuck up was building it on the first floor.

Why's that a fuck up :confused:

I quite like swimming towards the spire on Brady's & watching the trains go by as I potter along. ;)

[thetreehugger]

What's underneath the swimming pool?

[lang rabbie]

Rabbie -- I suppose one advantage of swimming in what appears to be a cathedral is that if you started to drown, god might intervene.
I bet George Bush used to wee in that pool.

The interior of the pool is actually nowhere near as attractive as Brixton Rec :eek: All you are aware of is the vast hangar-like space for over 2000 spectator seats around the pool! (Empty during my swims, LR hastens to add!)

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/yale/galleries/facilities/g-ex_pool3.jpg

Pool trivia 1: Back in 1974, Stephen Sondheim wrote a musical version of Aristophanes The Frogs, which was performed in the pool by Yale Repertory Theatre (and the university water polo team as additional frogs). The "chorus line" included Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver. :eek:

Pool trivia 2: Googling for that image brought another spooky coincidence:
Yale's other pool, the practice pool, is the world's largest suspended natatorium. On the third floor of the gym, it hold's 330,000 gallons of water, weighing 2.75 million pounds, and it includes a movable bulkhead which allows it to be used as either a 25-yard, 25 meter, or 50-meter course.
Unlike Brixton Rec, it doesn't leak!

[Donna Ferentes]

What's underneath the swimming pool?
The planet.

[hendo]

Some local businesses and the plant room, i think. Occasionally the pool leaks, leading to a closure and a big bill for the council.

That being said I once went to Las Vegas where one of the mad casino operators has built a recreation of a venetian canal on the first floor. It's about half a mile long and people punt up and down on it.

[hendo]

Why's that a fuck up :confused:

I quite like swimming towards the spire on Brady's & watching the trains go by as I potter along. ;)

The problem is it leaks. see above, also imposes massive stress on the building structure. Think of that as you look at the view. I try not to!

[lang rabbie]

The problem is it leaks. see above, also imposes massive stress on the building structure. Think of that as you look at the view. I try not to!

I think the building's structural engineering is quite capable of taking the weight of the water in the pool. IIRC, the leak problem was caused by the botched quality of the fit-out, which has meant that water could leak through the cable ducts to the underwater porthole lights.

[hendo]

I think the building's structural engineering is quite capable of taking the weight of the water in the pool.

I always like to think that as I do my laps. Then I start to think, crickey this pool must be bloody heavy. I wonder what keeps it up here?

Then I mess up my breathing and swallow some water.

The leak/porthole situation was supposed to be addressed with a two month long closure two years ago.

Here we are back again at square one.




:rolleyes:

[IntoStella]

Some local businesses and the plant room, i think. Occasionally the pool leaks, leading to a closure and a big bill for the council.

That being said I once went to Las Vegas where one of the mad casino operators has built a recreation of a venetian canal on the first floor. It's about half a mile long and people punt up and down on it.
Gives a whole new meaning to pulling the punters in.





<gets coat>

[IntoStella]

I always like to think that as I do my laps. Then I start to think, crickey this pool must be bloody heavy. You mean when you're in it or otherwise? :D

I had an idea about a year ago of making a spoof 1970s disaster movie about the pool with really bad wigs and special effects.

[lang rabbie]

What's underneath the swimming pool?

Isn't there a (very dark) multi-use sports hall below the pool. :confused:

[Pie 1]

imposes massive stress on the building structure.

I thought that was caused by the vibrations from the bass bins they use at those parties they have there sometimes.

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I'm not an expert but I always thought that the pool not being on the ground floor would be a problem. It must weigh 300 tons plus.

Anyway, can someone tell me where is a good alternative?

[lang rabbie]

Anyway, can someone tell me where is a good alternative?

Queen Mum Sports Centre, Vauxhall Bridge Road (run for Westminster)
Clapham Leisure Centre (run by Leisure Connection for Lambeth)
Peckham Pulse (run by Fusion for Southwark - have they sorted out the cockroach infestation yet?)

[Ms T]

Clapham or Streatham. I've never been to Streatham Rec, but was seriously unimpressed the one time I went to the Clapham one (the last time Brixton pool closed). It was filthy, and the pool's not half as nice as the one in Brixton. Plus you have to go to Clapham. ;)

Not very helpful -- sorry.

[IntoStella]

I'm not an expert but I always thought that the pool not being on the ground floor would be a problem. It must weigh 300 tons plus.
Depends who's in it. ;)

I probably weighs a good bit more than that, I'd have thought.

[Bob]

Depends who's in it. ;)

I probably weighs a good bit more than that, I'd have thought.

If it collapses we get a brixton version of 'The day after tomorrow' with a huge wave speeding through central Brixton! :eek:

[oryx]

Clapham or Streatham. I've never been to Streatham Rec, but was seriously unimpressed the one time I went to the Clapham one (the last time Brixton pool closed). It was filthy, and the pool's not half as nice as the one in Brixton.

Some friends of mine used to go to Clapham Manor pool with school & named it "Shit Pool" which kind of stuck. :D The pool itself isn't all that bad, but the changing rooms/showers are rife with clumps of hair, used Elastoplast, babies' nappies, plus the odd turd. :eek: :D

Latchmere Pool in Battersea is good & pobably no further than Peckham Pulse or Queen Mother in Pimlico. Balham pool used to be good but it's a while since I've been.

[lang rabbie]

If it collapses we get a brixton version of 'The day after tomorrow' with a huge wave speeding through central Brixton! :eek:

IS - care to to get busy with Photoshop for the poster?

[Ms Ordinary]

Clapham or Streatham. I've never been to Streatham Rec

Streatham Leisure Centre (http://streatham.leisureconnection.co.uk/)

"Built in 1934 the Centre’s features four original beautiful colour glass skylight windows on display above the 30m swimming pool.

The centre is 200 yards from Streatham rail station and 1,000 yards from Streatham Common."

sounds rather lovely...

(I've only been to Clapham pool once, don't recall much, vague memory of darkness & cold :eek: )

[MrSki]

That being said I once went to Las Vegas where one of the mad casino operators has built a recreation of a venetian canal on the first floor. It's about half a mile long and people punt up and down on it.

Is it actually on a raised floor? (No ground floor in the states.)

The floor must be bloody thick. I suppose from what I have heard about Las Vegas it probably is.

Still with the cash the casinos earn then can build follies till the cows...have put the kettle on.

[hendo]

Is it actually on a raised floor? (No ground floor in the states.)
.

As I recall you do have to go upstairs to see it.

[Mrs Magpie]

I'm sure I heard something on either the World Service or Radio 4 about this place...each area is like a tableau of a different city...Venice; canals. London;fog, probably. It sounded really weird and sort of Disney whelps ersatz Monte Carlo.

[lang rabbie]

Perhaps the promoters of one of the new super-casinos in the UK should join forces with the "Reclaim the Effra" brigade and make an offer to Lambeth that they can't refuse for redevelopment of the Rec.... ;) :D

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[IntoStella]

I probably weighs a good bit more than that, I'd have thought. Spot the Freudian slip. :o

[IntoStella]

IS - care to to get busy with Photoshop for the poster?
Not at work today -- got to go to the hospital later -- but I will see what I can do.

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Is the pool open again yet?

[Ms T]

Yes -- has been open all week.

[citydreams]

http://www.save-our-world.net/images/sowfront.jpg

*gets rain-coat* ;)

[lang rabbie]

It ain't funny any longer :(

[rennie]

so is it open now? (the pool i mean)

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Yes -- has been open all week.

:)