Pells Pool in Lewes reveals plans to reopen

Pells Pool in Lewes has revealed plans to reopen when more lockdown restrictions are lifted.
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Pells Pool Community Association said it has been actively looking at how it can reopen safely for swimming once government rules allow.

Chairman Conrad Ryle and pool manager Phil Ranlsey said: “This date will not be before July 4, at the earliest - at ‘step 3’ of the Government’s plan to lift the UK lockdown arrangements.

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“We at the Pells Pool Community Association formally manage the pool on behalf of Lewes Town Council – and they need to be satisfied that we are following all appropriate rules that apply to swimming pools and lifeguarding.”

Pells Pool in Lewes. Picture: Peter CrippsPells Pool in Lewes. Picture: Peter Cripps
Pells Pool in Lewes. Picture: Peter Cripps

Mr Ryle and Mr Ransley revealed a number of new guidelines that will be set by Swim England and the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS).

These include new training for lifeguards, limited numbers of people in the water at any one time, no changing rooms and lane swimming only.

They said: “We may have a one-way system to walk around the pool, with distance from lifeguard stations, along with leaning regimes and controlled access to toilets.

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“Possibly the hardest part may be that access by children to play in the water might not be allowed. If we can facilitate access by children we will do so – but it may be children will be allowed in pools only for lessons or supervised swimming activities, not for free play in the water.

“Since we do not run lessons or have supervised sessions, this may make normal access by children very hard to arrange. It could be that this could be for lane swimming only, supervised by adults, if at all.”

To manage the strictly limited numbers, Mr Ryle and Mr Ransley said swimming sessions will be ticketed access only – meaning people arriving having bought tickets already online with no queuing.

They added: “We are determined to have swimming in the Pells in 2020 in ways that are safe for everyone involved and comply with guidelines. However, this 2020 season will not be a normal one for us.

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“We know that some other outdoor heated pools, some which are smaller than the Pells or do not have the space around them, may not even be able to plan to open under these circumstances.

“Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work through all the safe operation of the Pells.”

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