Consultation on proposed changes to powers to restrict non-essential uses of water

This response by the British Swimming Pool Federation is on behalf of our two member organizations; the Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association representing pool contractors and suppliers, and BISHTA - the spa and hot tub association.  We also address an issue affecting another member organization, the Swimming Teachers’ Association, in relation to private non-domestic sector swimming pools. 

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"Testing the Water"

Swimming is the single most popular form of sporting activity among all age groups in this country. Its health and safety benefits are well-known, and acknowledged by the Government in its Swimming Strategy and responses to the CMS Select Committee Report and the Swimming Advisory Group. Swimming also has the third highest retention rate in terms of post-teenage activity.

BSPF has a major interest in development of the infrastructure to enable everyone to participate in swimming activities. We note with regret the Government's negative response to the recommendation that there should be dedicated funding to local authorities for the provision of new swimming pools and renovation of existing pools. We believe that the best way to get our community facilities up to a standard comparable with other European nations is to PROVIDE DIRECT DEDICATED FUNDING for new pools.

There is a huge backlog of necessary repair and renovation of the existing pool stock: it is estimated that £2 billion will be needed to bring our public pools up to date. A LONG TERM STRATEGIC PLAN IS NEEDED to identify priorities and provide resources centrally.

The Government must take the lead in this, in order to support their own targets that all primary children should be able to swim 25 metres by the end of Key stage 2. At present, 1 child in 5 is unable to meet this target, and in many areas achievement is hampered by the non-availability of swimming facilities within reasonable reach. We are concerned that school pools in many areas of the country have been closing down for lack of funding, at the very time when they are urgently needed.

BSPF members are ready to help with advice and support nationwide in trying to reverse this trend.

Government can help to encourage this refurbishment work by reducing the VAT burden on repair and renovation of swimming pools in the public and educational domain.

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The role of the private sector

The growth of private leisure facilities over the last 10 years has seen a developing market for private swimming pools and spas in these clubs. BSPF members have been active in developing these facilities, and they provide a valuable additional outlet for members of the public to swim as exercise and recreation.

BSPF also promotes strongly the affordability of domestic pool and spa ownership, with a range of economic and practical products to enable more and more of the public to have these facilities at home for themselves and their children to have the opportunity to swim whenever they wish, without having to travel long distances to the nearest public pool or book in advance for the local heavily-used leisure centre pool. This also reflects leisure trends to want to have more activity centred around the home where the family can be together

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Retentions in Construction

BSPF welcomes the recommendation of the Select Committee Report on the Use of Retention in Construction that retention is "an outdated practice that should not be necessary in a modern productive industry that delivers a high quality product."

BSPF pool contractor members are SMEs who frequently find themselves in the position of sub-contractors to major building contractors, having to fund substantial retentions imposed by their main contractors.

Their financial stability can be threatened by these unnecessary burdens, and we support the recommendations of the Select Committee that Government departments should take a lead in phasing out the practice.

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Spa Pool Safety

BISHTA, the part of BSPF concerned with self-contained domestic spas and hot tubs, has developed procedures and training aimed at ensuring that all spas and hot tubs distributed by its members are safe from the risk of infectious outbreaks such as legionnaires' disease. Publicity and education is being carried out to ensure that the whole industry is aware of this initiative which will reassure the public about the safety of these products.

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European Pool and Spa Standards

As a founder member of the European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations (EUSA), BSPF is working on the development of common industry standards for pool and spa construction and operation with its European colleagues. We will look for the support of the UK Government, standards and enforcement organisations for the adoption of these standards when they are finalised.

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