Swim England CEO Nickerson Seeks Answers On Pool Closures As Second Lockdown Is Announced

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Photo Courtesy: British Swimming

Swim England chief executive Jane Nickerson has questioned the closure of pools and expressed her disappointment they are not classed as essential services following the announcement of a second lockdown.

Prime minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that a four-week lockdown in England will begin in the early hours of Thursday 5 November and will last until Wednesday 2 December during which time all indoor leisure facilities will be forced to close.

It follows the sharp rise in coronavirus cases across England and means all gyms, leisure centres, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues will be closed.

Photo Courtesy: Swim England

Schools, universities and colleges will remain open along with supermarkets, chemists and takeaways while people will be able to exercise outdoors – although not in outdoor pools.

There has been a vocal response from many in the fitness industry as well as past and present elite swimmers who point to the possible effects on both mental and physical health with Nickerson asking that swimming be redefined as essential.

She said: “Whilst I wholeheartedly support measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19 in our communities and commend the Government for taking decisive action, it is extremely disappointing and frustrating to see indoor leisure being forced to close again.

“We have consistently made the case that aquatic activity is both safe and a lifeline for many people in such uncertain times and that leisure centres should therefore be considered an essential service.

“Since the reopening of pools, leisure centres and gyms in July, we have seen that they are well-managed environments where the risk of transmission is low.

“For many people, the pool offers the only opportunity for them to be active – something that will be more important than ever during another lockdown.

“Additionally, there are fewer options available to people to exercise through the cold winter months than there were during the first, summer, lockdown.”

Photo Courtesy: Jane Nickerson Twitter

So too did Nickerson underline the possible long-term ramifications for the industry with many facilities, pool providers and suppliers on a financial precipice from which there may be no return.

That in turn will lead to job losses across the industry – a further human cost.

She added:

“A second period of closure will push many facilities over the edge and there is the dangerous prospect of losing so many facilities for good.

“To that extent, the Government must dig deep and find the necessary funding to ensure we don’t see swimming pools and other leisure facilities permanently close.

“If they don’t, we face the real risk of seeing a generation missing out on learning a vital life skill by learning to swim and enjoy the water safely, while our clubs and members will sadly not be able to take part in the sports they love.”

Can we start a campaign 2keep leisure facilities that help us all 2keep fit open? This is not spring now. We have Dark nights & bad weather. I don’t want to bike outdoors today! What a great message for government to send… keep fitter look after the NHS @Swim_England @danroan

— Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) October 31, 2020

Ukactive is a not-for-profit body comprising members and partners from all parts of the activity sector from local leisure centres through providers working out of community centres to global brands.

Research published by ukactive showed there had been only 78 confirmed Covid-19 cases among more than 22 million visits between 25 July and 13 September.

A more recent study by experts at Sheffield Hallam University analysed 62 million trips to gyms and leisure centres in 14 European countries since September.

The data showed there had been only 487 infections reported by operators in Germany, France, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg and the UK – the equivalent of 0.78 cases per 100,000.

CEO Huw Edwards pointed to the statistical data and echoed Nickerson on mental and physical wellbeing while also calling for financial assistance.

He said in a statement:

“We urge the Prime Minister to ensure comprehensive financial support for the health and fitness sector is available to help it survive this period, minimising the now grave threat to further business failure and significant job losses.

“Our sector is essential to the battle with COVID-19 directly supporting the nation’s health, wellbeing and resilience.

Huw Edwards: Photo Courtesy: ukactive

“Local community health services including gyms and leisure centres should be accessible, even with tightened restrictions. Loss of access to these facilities will damage activity levels significantly, as proven by the recent Sport England analysis that showed a significant drop in activity levels in the first lockdown.

“Furthermore, during winter months outdoor activity will be significantly less appealing and we should now expect activity levels to decline further. We should also highlight the SAGE (the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) analysis that documented the loss in access to facilities will have a detrimental impact on mental wellbeing and potentially increase health inequalities with some BAME and vulnerable groups.

“The reality is that millions will be impacted by a deterioration in both their physical and mental health, with implications to longer term public health challenges. This should be of deep concern to the Prime Minister and all political parties.”

Nickerson will continue seeking answers as she looks to “understand the reasoning behind this latest closure of pools”.

She added:

“There are many things that need further clarification following Mr Johnson’s statement and we will be seeking the answers as soon as we can in the coming days.

“Is school swimming – a key aspect of the national curriculum – allowed to continue as schools are remaining open? Can swim schools with access to their own private pools be allowed to stage lessons for family bubbles?

“We’d love to be able to give the answers now but there was a distinct lack of detail on what is allowed in the immediate aftermath of the Prime Minister’s announcement.

“Please bear with us as we look into all of your queries. We’ll look to update you all as soon as is practically possible.

“One thing is certain is that we will be lobbying the Government to pledge further financial support to the operators and facilities that will be severely impacted again by this lockdown.

“Around 20 per cent of public pools are still closed following the first lockdown – and some of those that had reopened are struggling to make ends meet as social distancing measures have seen programmes scaled back.

“Rest assured, we will not go away and will keep pleading and shouting about the #SaveLeisure and #SaveOurSports campaign until we have a successful resolution that will see everyone back enjoying the sports that they love.

“In the meantime, please stay safe.”

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Stephen Marcus

3 years ago

Pity Boris is not a sport person…If he was a swimmer or gym fan then maybe you would have a chance…

Paul

3 years ago

When l go to the gym,or have a swim which l do six times a week in trafford.l do this not only to stay fit.But to stay alive.l,m 76 years old.l can’t walk very far.l can ride my bike,but it’s winter.Swimming is my main activity.Or should say was.There will be longer queues at the hospitals.l don’t want to be one of them.
Thankyou for allowing me to release some of my frustrations.

Disgruntled Parent

3 years ago

Are private schools allowed to continue swimming in their own pools? If this is permitted as a claim to being part of their curriculum- then the same argument will be the case for all schools who have swimming as a significant element of the national curriculum. They should be entitled to the same opportunity as they’ll be able to attend in an identical way, as a school bubble. The government needs to be careful that they allow all children the SAME opportunity. Is it one rule for those who pay privately for education and another rule for those who don’t. I am aware of a local private school who are pursuing swimming to continue as part of their school day.

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Liz Byrnes - Europe Correspondent

3 years ago

Reply to Disgruntled Parent

I have just sent out an updated piece on the guidelines and it seems that pools at boarding schools can stay open. Lessons as part of the national curriculum can go ahead in a school-owned pool or usual venue if the operator is open. Re boarding schools, I presume that they can remain open because the children are living on-site in a bubble. I don’t know how many non fee-paying schools have pools – not many I would think.

Disgruntled parent

3 years ago

So, swimming lessons for a few are permitted- is this fair? Are they set to happen in school hours? Also , If boarding school have swimmer scholarships and they have a pool are they allowed to train? Can day pupils who don’t board also train as they’re off site and mixing outside with family who are working or may have children at other schools. Local private schools that have boarding are stating that they can train and training programs have already been set for these fortunate few; both for those who board and those that are day pupils together.
This is going to be extremely divisive. School children from public schools are not being giving the same opportunity to learn to swim.
Whilst competitive swimmers who aren’t attending private schools are being disadvantaged by being denied the opportunity to train. Swim England should cancel any competitions until these swimmers have been given a fairer playing field. If there are clear policies in place to prevent these private school competitive swimmers being advantaged- and that it was purely for ‘health’ then at least that would enable children from local communities who are being deprived opportunities to train to see that measures by Swim England Were being made to deny any advantage being taken to its maximum point. These children from wealthy families are already advantaged by being provided for within the school setting to train during the school day- lockdown should not enable further advantages to occur at the expense of other children from local communities, children who train just as hard, if not harder as they work around school. I ask that Swim England rights this wrong. Set it out clear that this sport seeks fairness in competition. As unfortunately that is the only devise the sport has control over to use within this awful period of swimming history.

Vanda bardgett

3 years ago

Hello
I totally agree with the last comment on unfairness on competitive swimming . My daughter is a really good swimmer who has competed at English and British champs for the last 4 years. Her Squad at a big club is all private school school pupils except her they all compete at same level but she is the only one who goes to normal school where she gets no support for her sport . She asked her coach how is this fair and he said there is nothing he can do and it is up to Boris Johnson. Swim England should take all this into account for competition and pathway selections as this is elitism at its highest form .I also think from the the athletes point of view it is very detrementive and affects there mental health.