Water shame

Glenfield Leisure Centre's swimming pool is becoming run-down, driving potential users elsewhere for aquatic exercise, discovers Rebecca Lewis
It was once one of the most popular swimming pools on the North Shore, but these days Glenfield Leisure Centre's aquatic area is struggling to stay afloat. A lack of funding from the North Shore City Council has seen the centre slowly deteriorate over the years - forcing nearby residents to swim elsewhere. Nick Kearney lives down the road from the leisure centre, but decided to join a gym that has a pool in the city rather than use what Glenfield offers. As the chairman of Glenfield Community Board, Mr Kearney says he is saddened by the leisure centre's minimal funding. "The hydroslide, a main attraction, has been taken away from the pool and is being repaired for a huge cost at the moment; cleanliness is a major problem and people just aren't using the centre as much anymore," he says. "There's just not enough money being put towards this place. The council is willing to spend millions on plenty of other projects around the place but are reluctant to spend as much on their leisure centres. "I'd rather drive . . . into town to use the pool than use the one in Glenfield. It's just too run-down." Greenhithe resident Sue Norwood also stopped using the Glenfield pool more than a year ago because of its poor state. "It's gone downhill in terms of maintenance and hygiene and it looks very run-down," she says. "It doesn't appear to be cleaned very often and I didn't like going there anymore." Mr Kearney says he has also learned the centre was losing money because the turnstiles for people entering the centre have not been working, allowing people to walk in and use the pool for free. But Rochelle McIntyre, Glenfield Leisure Centre manager, says this is only a small issue. "The turnstiles are not the main problem but, when they don't work, it's hard to patrol who is going in and out," she says. "There are surveys that are going to be done to figure out why these facilities aren't being used as much as they used to." Kay Lawry, leisure liaison manager for the council, says budgets are being met and they are doing their best to keep the place up and running. "Leisure services provides extensive opportunities for wet and dry programming and works hard to meet these outcomes within its current funding levels," Ms Lawry says. "In the next long term plan the council will be addressing the strategic direction for leisure services and its assets." Mr Kearney sincerely hopes the centre is provided with more money to allow it to keep running. "The North Shore is hailed as a sporting venue but the leisure centre doesn't reflect this at all. "It's a disgrace that one of the main centres looks like it does."