School pools across the country, provide the key ingredient to a joined-up approach to community sports provision. For example, the London borough of Edmonton, clubbed together to raise an outstanding £4.5 million, in just 18 months, to be able to invest in what has turned out to be an award-winning swimming pool and sports centre. The Latymer Upper School project has gone on to score top marks and was named as School Pool Of The Year in the 2017 UK Pool & Spa Awards.Situated on the banks of the Thames, in West London, the school’s outdated sports centre was demolished in 2013 and a new sports centre opened in 2016. The build project was project-managed internally by the school’s former Deputy Head Alex Hirts along with the architects, Faulknerbrowns.
OLYMPIC FEEL
The replacement pool has been designed with the exact same specifications as the Olympic aquatic centre. It boasts a movable floor, LED lighting, spectator areas, Swiss Timing, training and competition blocks and lane ropes. The plant room boasts two sand based filters, UV and automatic dosing. “Tom Devin, from Devin Consulting, designed the pool and the support we receive from him, even after the build project had been completed, is unbelievable,” acknowledges, Sports Centre Manager, Hassan Abdillahi.“Lance Brooks, services manager at FT Leisure, has been by our side since the beginning and always resolves any issues we cannot deal with internally,” he adds.“The staff team is the backbone of the sports centre and without them the pool would not be what it is,” says Hassan who confirms all staff undergo PPO and life guarding courses with additional in-house monthly training.
