'Huge need for public, heated pool in Mossel Bay'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The need for a public, heated swimming pool in Mossel Bay has been raised again.

Mossel Bay Advertiser has reported on this previously, quoting an underwater hockey coach and the head of a lifesaving club.

This time swimming coach, Bronwyn Macdonald, approached the Advertiser, saying: "I know it will be an enormous expense and a swimming pool doesn't make money, but it is needed."

She coached swimming at the heated, indoor Hartenbos ATKV pool at the Hartenbos Seefront until the pool was closed about three weeks ago, before the September school holidays.

Parts of the building housing the pool have been condemned because the roof needs repairs.

Closed indefinitely

Hartenbos ATKV resort manager Mornay Beukes said: "The heated pool is closed indefinitely.

"We are waiting for feedback from Hartenbos Seefront about the roof of the building. When we have an answer from them, we can plan whether we will open it again."

The building housing the pool is owned by Hartenbos Seefront.

Condemned

Denise Lloyd, Hartenbos Seefront manager, said: "Engineers condemned part of the building, so the Seefront management and board are meeting later this month and will decide whether to replace the roof or repair it.

"The ATKV rents the building from the Seefront. An engineer has said it is not safe.

"There are wooden structures under the roof and dampness. The pool was closed as a preventative measure."

Cold water

Macdonald said: "Children learning to swim cannot tolerate cold water. I can't coach them because the outdoor temperature is still not warm enough.

"Coaching in cold water is no fun for the coach or the swimmer. There is no public place in Mossel Bay for people to practise swimming, even for the community - no facility."

Senior citizens

She said senior citizens had gone to the ATKV heated pool on a daily basis.

"It was the highlight of their day and highly therapeutic."

Macdonald points out that the only other pool used for training in Mossel Bay is the Park Primary School pool, not open to the general public, and it is not heated.

Municipality

The Advertiser asked the municipality for comment.

It stated: "Mossel Bay Municipality has noted the need for a heated indoor swimming pool for a variety of aquatic sports, as well as community development in terms of 'learn to swim' programmes.

Costly

"Construction of such a facility is very costly and not achievable within the municipal budget.

"Therefore, the municipality, with its firm belief in fostering partnerships, has had ongoing discussions with the private sector, as well as other state departments about establishing such a facility."