The secretary of a swimming club based at Ryde’s Waterside Pool has spoken out about the situation at Gurnard Pines, now renamed the Phoenix Zone, and is calling for the owner Terry Prosser to meet the community.
Mr Prosser announced on Wednesday that he’d be able to keep the pool open only if 100 people signed up for pool membership costing £300 per month.
Hagen: Costs and revenue did not appear to be a complete picture
Phil Hagen, who is also a Cowes resident, told News OnTheWight,
“I learned of Phoenix-zone’s intention to permanently close the Gurnard pool. Whilst I completely accept that high energy costs have an immediate commercial impact, these costs are forecast to significantly drop by the end of the year, whereas a closed pool facility is lost for life.
“The costs and revenue information provided in the press release were misleading and certainly did not appear to be a complete picture.
“It didn’t mention revenue from Elite School of Swimming that provides lessons to over 400 children per week, or other past swim memberships, and didn’t consider potential savings, such as a pool cover that would save 80% of heat loss during unused hours.”
Hagen: Community interests need to be considered
He went on to add,
“I fully understand the need to be profitable, and as we already have pools on the Island, that work with their communities to maintain a service, surely the surrounding community of Gurnard pool, deserve the same chance.
“We should always welcome new business investment to our Island, but we need to ensure it doesn’t put shareholder profit ahead of our community interests. In this case, Phoenix-zone have the option to do ‘as much as possible’, or ‘as little as is necessary’ for the community.”
Hagen: Makes it feel like their sole intention is to close the pool
Addressing the suggestion that more than 100 swimmers would need to pay £10 per day, every day to keep the pool open, Mr Hagen added,
“The proposal from Phoenix-zone of £3,600 a year for pool membership is an unworkable option and makes it feel like their sole intention is to close the pool. Swimming pools are crucial to the health and wellbeing of our community.
“They support people to be active, and proven to have significant mental health benefits, reducing pressure on the NHS. Nationally, swimming saves the NHS and social care system over £357 million each year (information from Swim England).
“Swimming is also a vital life skill and too many of our children still leave school unable to swim and this situation will only get worse if we let our pools close.”
Call to meet with a local community group
Mr Hagen finished by saying,
“To be successful, Phoenix Zone and the Gurnard Pines site will need local support. Without a pool, there are plenty of other competing facilities on the Island.
“I would ask Phoenix-zone to meet with a local community group to fully understand the costs/revenues and explore a workable solution to keeping the pool open.”
