Lapse leads to pool closure

CLOSED: The Huntley brothers Jason (left), 11, and Jacob, 13, showed up to the pool yesterday keen for a swim, but with no luck. PHOTO/ STUART MUNRO 080115WCSMPOOL1

Wanganui East Pool is closed at least until tomorrow because the lifeguards need to renew their qualifications.

The Wanganui East Pool Trust decided to temporarily close the pool after consultation on Wednesday evening with Wanganui District Council deputy property manager Leighton Toy.

Mr Toy confirmed the qualifications had lapsed.

Trust chairman John Rhodes said lifeguards needed to renew their qualifications every two years. When asked how long they had been lapsed for and whether it went unnoticed, he said there was "some dispute over that" and "it will all be sorted out [today]".

The trust was to bring in an assessor today, and if all lifeguards successfully completed the assessment the pools would re-open tomorrow.

Pool manager Warren Webber said the lifeguards were being trained to the "highest standards".

Councillor Ray Stevens was disappointed the public hadn't been informed of the closure.

"I think it's ignorance," he said. "They have people coming from all over town for their cheap swim. If they aren't going to bother telling them that's really disappointing."

He said people chose the Wanganui East Pools over the Splash Centre when going for a cheaper option, but driving across town to get there only to find the pools closed was wasting fuel. "What's the cost of taking out an ad?" he asked.

"People are going to be inconvenienced. Things happen, just tell people and they don't mind. Don't piss them off by not telling them."

A post on the Wanganui Aquatic Centre's Facebook page is notifying people of the closure.