A swimming coach is "shell shocked" after receiving an eviction notice from Genesis Recreation Centre management.
Jill McLean, who uses the centre to coach 150 children in the Aquajets Swim Club, was last week given the notice by facility manager Steve Glendon.
"It came completely out of the blue with no warning
and seems so unfair it's not on, and we are absolutely shell-shocked," she said.
In the notice Mr Glendon did not give a reason why Community Leisure Management (CLM) would not be renewing the club's bookings for the year from the end of term one.
He instead referred to the terms and conditions of the facility hire agreement that stated "the manager at their discretion may refuse any application of hire, waiver and specific conditions, or cancel any booking without assigning a reason".
Mr Glendon added: "as part of the management contract, Community Leisure Management negotiated exclusivity pertaining to the teachings of 'Learn to Swim' through our resident swim school".
"We are not sure whether we are going to reapply for bookings as we don't know what doors are still open. At the moment we are still trying to get on top of it all."
Mr Glendon said CLM is "currently in discussions with Aquajets to work through some contractual issues related to exclusive coaching rights held by the facility management".
"We are pleased with the progress made so far and look forward to resolving the outstanding issues so they can continue operating as a Swim Club at this facility into the future," he said.
Mr Glendon said Genesis Energy Recreation Centre management were "100 per cent" behind sporting organisations and clubs within the region and more than 200,000 visitors had used the facility in the last year. "Amateur Swim Clubs play an important part in attracting these visitors and we have enjoyed hosting Aquajets club nights for many years."
Nicola Champion, whose daughter attends the Aquajets programme said: "Those we have spoken to feel completely blind-sided by this incident and believe CLM on this occasion is attempting to remove the community's freedom of choice over who is available to teach our children."
n Ms McLean invites interested people to attend a meeting on the matter from 7pm, on Thursday, at the Masterton Bridge Club Rooms at 112 Villa Street.
