Swimmers' worries over Horley Leisure Centre's new pool
| Posted: November 11, 2011
SWIMMERS fear they will be left exposed to onlookers by the town's new £7.5 million leisure centre
Concerns have been raised over the "goldfish bowl" effect of the centre's pool, which has glass walls facing out onto busy Court Lodge Road.
Residents are also stunned that the large hedge which once screened the site of the new Horley Leisure Centre swimming pool has been removed, leaving swimmers of all ages visible to the public.
What's more, new benches have just been installed at a nearby bus stop, allowing those waiting passengers to peer in.
Horley Swimming Club chairman Maggie Reid said: "This is more exposed than the other pools I've seen.
"While all the lights are on you can really see; I can see the people working there now and that's the view you've got of everybody in the pool. I would have liked to have seen some sort of film on the windows, just to provide a bit more protection."
For those living in Court Lodge Road, opposite the development, the lit-up pool is clearly visible from their front room windows at night.
Resident John Peters said: "The whole pool is exposed. The whole thing is alongside the road. They've removed the hedge and you can watch into the pool.
"You'll be able to see them swimming. They've taken the hedge down and they've even put seating there. I think it's ridiculous."
Though all welcome the new state-of-the-art centre, some worry the fear of being exposed will make people think twice before using the seven-lane pool, which Reigate and Banstead Borough Council says aims to achieve the feeling of an outside pool in a "warm and comfortable environment".
Court Lodge resident Amy Hunt said: "It is a bit exposed, people can be looking in. It is a bit goldfish bowlish.
"People don't really want to swim if you can see in and look at them. I don't want to swim if people are watching. You never know what creepy pervert is watching."
But the council, which is in charge of the new development, said the problems had not been raised at any point during the "extensive" consultation period.
A council spokesman said: "Neither the glass frontage nor the seating has been raised at any time as an issue until now.
"The glass at the front of the building is intended to make a connection between the inside and the outside of the centre."
The council says staff training, new plants and the fact that people peering in will be visible will create a safer environment at the pool than the current Horley Anderson Centre or the beach.
The Horley Leisure Centre is due to open early next year when the Horley Anderson Centre, earmarked for housing, will close.





Comments
Been there today with my baby. Very Poor service... I asked stuff at information desk if the swiming pool is good for 7months old baby, is the woter temp worm enought? They said YES. Whent in water, stopust to be 36* it was much less, for a 7 months old baby it was very could. My litle girl was shaking... Then they told me about my camera (GoPRo). They said:"You not aloud to have any photografy equiment in the swimmingf pool". That was first time I was with my baby at swimming pool, so I wanted to have some pics of it. I didnt see any information about bringing a cameras to this place. Anyway, after 15min baby was shaking so we have to get out. Changeing room very cold. Bad organisation. Never go there again!
Muslims have an issue relating to privacy.
... and what has any of this got to do with Muslims?!
One question for you though: precisely how many people have you witnessed, lasciviously gawping at children in the pool? How do you know they are oggling the children, and not simply admiring the venue?
Indeed, I care about those who are against the design.
I take it back. You make your case so forcefully. You clearly are not paranoid at all.
To the person who called me paranoid, why don't you start seeing the fact that the leisure centre is a leisure centre AND NOT Brighton or Bognor beach!!!! Also, children do not need to be gawped at inappropriately, nor do Muslims or unwanted objects of desire!
Dear paranoid busybody, You have convinced me that I was wrong. I now agree that we should be very concerned about all the monsters out there. The other day I was in the supermarket with my 4 year old daughter. My daughter was wearing a skirt, and you could see her bare knees. A man glanced in our general direction, and I felt violated. How can I stop these monsters seeing my daughter? I also recall crossing the road in town, and I am sure the man in the car at the traffic lights looked our way. It was terrifying. Either of these men could have been one of the "people that had been to prison, involved in drugs and drinking alcohol 24/7." How can we allow these people to roam free, let alone allow them the possibility of seeing into a swimming pool area?! Though I must confess, I do not know why we should be more concerned about people who have been to prison, or involved with drugs, seeing into the pool area, than any other person. Or is it the case that people who have been to prison, or involved in drugs are more pre-disposed to being a paedophile?! Rather than worrying about obscurring the glass at the swimming pool, perhaps we should all lock our children up in their houses, lest someone should see them; and we should also keep them away from the windows in case they could be seen by all the monsters who are apparently crowding outside to get a look. Or maybe we should paint all of our windows? I am just so glad that the leisure centre does CRB background checks on every single person who uses the pool. Oh no, hang on, they don't. Heavens! That means that I have no idea whether the man swimming next to me and my daughter is a man just out for a swim, or a monster, trying to get a look at my daughter in her swimming costume. Quick, let's close the pool. Close the leisure centre. Everyone stay indoors. No one is safe. Monsters everywhere. For goodness sake, get a grip. There are so many things that could exercise your anxieties. But really, windows at a swimming pool?! I use the pool regularly and have never, never, seen anyone hanging around outside, leering through the windows. Anyway, even if they did, they would just see several happy heads bobbing about in the water. And when the children do get out of the water, what do you know - they have swimming clothes on. That's swimming "clothes". It is not as if the windows are in the changing area! The new pool is great. All the natural sunlight makes it a nice place to be. If your monsters wanted to oggle the kiddies, they could just as easily come into the pool area. If the windows were obscured, then perhaps they would be more likely to do so! At least outside they can be seen, and they are separated from the children by a wall of glass. Please, for your own sanity, focus your attentions on something that really needs it.
Furthermore, I have been invited in for a meeting with Horley Town Council's next committee meeting on May 29th to voice my own opinions as three of the Reigate and Banstead Committee members sit on it. Please feel free to sign my e-petition on the Reigate and Banstead Council website.
"Although they do go to the seaside to swim, in this day and age you still have to be very careful around children because there are other leisure centres in the country where the windows have been painted over or frosted over to stop people looking in. There may be people who may feel uncomfortable, feel that they may well be the object of unwanted desire or attention and also they would feel that they would be on display. It is not done to have the leisure centre with open views placed right opposite the housing estate, especially where there are bus stops and benches outside. People who have taken the time and trouble to sign the petition have actually stated that they wouldn't send their children there, that they wouldn't use the centre and also feel that they would be on display. Some have even said that it would get worse over the summer months due to the fact that on nice sunny days people would sit on the benches congregating and watching the swimmers swim from outside which is not appropriate in this day and age; you just don't know who might be looking in."