Adults-only swim sessions curb defended

OLDHAM Community Leisure has defended changes that have cut the number of hours restricted for adult-only use at local pools.

The leisure company, which is responsible for the management of 14 sports centres, swimming pools and synthetic pitches in Oldham, has replaced several adult sessions with all-age sessions at all pools from this month. The changes followed comments about the lack of opportunities for family and under-16s swimming.

Sarah Maxwell of OCL said: “Our programming needs to be diverse and not too restrictive. We have many different groups to accommodate and it’s important to give as many of these as possible access to pool time.

A major objection to the change has come from adults who prefer adult-only sessions, which allow the use of the full length of the pool.

Ms Maxwell suggested that where sufficient pool space permits, sessions will feature a laned area for those keen to swim lengths.”

Not all customers are happy with the change; some have threatened to cancel their membership.

One swimmer said: “I fully support sport for all and welcome the provision for non-swimmers, families and children but I felt the timetable was extremely well balanced until this recent change.”