Hundreds left to wait at outdoor pool

7:51pm Sunday 11th May 2008

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Swimmers were left high and dry on the hottest day of the year so far as a lack of lifeguards led to massive queues at Oxford's outdoor swimming pool.

Would-be bathers had to wait over an hour in queues of more than a hundred to get into Hinksey Pool as managers restricted numbers because they did not have enough lifeguards.

Many gave up, rather than wait in temperatures of 27c.

Oxford City Council closed two of its indoor pools to transfer lifeguards to Hinksey to cope with the anticipated "exceptional demand", but there still were not enough to allow the pool to operate at full capacity. A 'one-out, one-in' policy was in place for a second day running.

Long queues formed as early as 9.45am yesterday. Parents queued in the sunshine but sent their children to find what shade they could.

Yesterday, no-one at the pool would speak to the Oxford Mail.

Swimmers, however, said they were told the lack of lifeguards was due to a combination of sickness and a "chronic" lack of staff. Safety rules mean the number of swimmers is limited by the number of lifeguards on duty.

The pool at Peers Sports Centre and Blackbird Leys swimming pool closed over the weekend, except for pre-booked lessons and birthday parties.

Oxford's pools have struggled with staff shortages, and a council spokesman said recruitment was held up due to the time taken for criminal record checks.

Andrea Swiffen's family of five had come for a swim to celebrate her daughter Emma's fifth birthday, but left after queuing for 20 minutes.

Mrs Swiffen, 37, from Botley, said: "It's terrible. Everybody knew the weather forecast. It was obviously going to be like this and now there's nowhere for us to go.

"It's a great disappointment. We cycled all the way to Cowley to get swimming trunks for our young boy but neither him nor my daughter will get a swim on her birthday.

"The council spend all year maintaining it and the day when they can make money from it, they can't find enough staff.

"I think we'll probably have to set up the paddling pool when we get home. I think it's outrageous."

Aaran Patterson, 17, of Hollow Way, said: "It's shocking. The council need to get some more staff here."

Stephanie Mobbs, 19, also from Hollow Way, added: "We're feeling dehydrated. I think the council should be handing out water to people."

Mother-of-two Jodie Flynn-Abbasi, 25, from Greater Leys, said: "If I hadn't promised my kids we'd go swimming I would go home. Why are we queueing up if they've closed two pools already?"