Battersea Latchmere Leisure Centre Swimming Pool BUG Post Reply

[LKNorthcote]

great thanks for the tip. I shall check it out

[Joeybar]

I agree with manicmummy. Unless you have a cleaner going into the cubicles after every single person and following them round with a mop and bucket, its totally unrealistic for it to be spotless all the time.

I go to the Latchmere sometimes a couple of times a week with my 2 year old for a mixture of swimming and soft play and can honestly say I have never had a bad experience there. Of course improvements can and should be made constantly (especially important in a building that is not brand spanking new like the Clapham Manor pool) - i've noticed in the last couple of weeks that the showers have been updated, presumably to make them easier to clean.

The Latchmere do need to make sure they keep on top of any maintenance issues and get them resolved ASAP and also keeping customers up to date with where they are in fixing the problems e.g one of the toilets had been out of action for a while - it would be been great have a more detailed sign to say, when it broke, what the general problem is, estimated fix time and the department who is responsible. At the end of the day - things break and need fixing - thats a fact but i think if theres a real and genuine effort made to sort thing ASAP and keep people informed then people are alot more forgiving. I may pop that in their comment box!

[mumoftwoboys]

We were back at the Latchmere last week for a swimming class with Water Babies and they are in the process of changing the showers so there was a bit of disruption in the changing area but the smell was still really bad in there. The smell is especially bad on one side of the changing room (left as you walk in from the reception area). I went to change my 18 month old in a changing room with a changing table in it on the other side with the less offensive smell but the changing room was disgusting, there were three or four nappies spilling out of the large nappy bin and on the floor. It really was foul and as a few people have mentioned here this can't just be blamed on the centre! These are parents/carers etc leaving dirty nappies on the floor - unbelievable. Obviously if the bins are too full then some of the blame can be put on the cleaning team but still you don't just leave your dirty nappies on floor!

Anyway, hopefully people will be more considerate to others when using the changing rooms and that foul smell will go!

[Just_T]

The Latchmere is vile. My daughter caught a parasite called Crypto Spiridium traced back (by Environmental Services themselves) to the Latchmere. It is resistant to chlorine and the Latchmere has a known issue with this parasite! I have twice watched the lifeguards chase poo with a net from one side of the pool to the other while swimmers stand around (often with babies in their arms) waiting to go back in! Plus I was told that just 3 weeks prior to the time I was last there, a toddler almost drowned (to the point of requiring resuscitation and hospitalisation) because they only had 2 lifeguards on instead of 3 and couldn't see behind that pointless column in the middle of the pool. Three weeks later they still hadn't found a solution to that problem (eg put on a 3rd lifeguard; make sure the life guards on duty are actually awake; tear down the column; or station the lifeguards to ensure full visibility). Don't even get me started on the changing rooms, bathrooms, and rudeness and ineptitude of the staff. It is such a shame because the kids love it but never, ever again.

[Latchmere LC]

On behalf of the team at Latchmere Leisure Centre I would like to apologise to anyone who feels they have had a less than satisfactory experience when visiting Latchmere Leisure Centre recently, particularly relating to our changing village area. I would like to reassure all customers that we value all your feedback and I am personally disappointed that on occasions our standards have been inconsistent. As a result we will continue strive for improvement with the aim of delivering the highest possible standards of presentation and cleaning at all times.

As well as monitoring our service delivery internally the site is regularly inspected by the council’s Leisure & Environmental Health departments. In addition we continually receive feedback from our internal customer feedback system and customer surveys completed by an independent external service provider. In response to this feedback we have recently: -

• Replaced all village toilet and shower cubicles – January 2012
• Changed sanitary supplier and increased collections – May 2012
• Employed a new Contract Cleaning company that has significantly improved deep cleaning standards – May 2012
• Reviewed internal staff cleaning rotas and increased cover based on the feedback we have received from our customers – August 2012
• Upgraded shower facilities within the changing village – October 2012

With reference to the unpleasant drainage smells that on occasions affect this area. Further investigation it taking place this Thursday 25th October 2012 to try and locate the problem and find a solution.

Swimming Pool Water Quality

With particular reference to the hygiene of our swimming pools, may I reassure every customer that we fully adhere to all industry standards as outlined in HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and PWTAG (Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group) guidelines. These control measures include monthly bacteriological sample testing by an independent company which confirms we are within acceptable and safe parameters.

The guidelines to keep the swimming pool healthy for customers is as follows:

Everyone using the swimming pool can help to keep it healthy and hygienic for all. Please follow these simple steps:-

Do not use the pool if you, or your child, have diarrhoea or have had it in the past 2 weeks.

Shower before swimming. Make sure you (and your child) wash thoroughly with soap and hot water. Don’t just ‘get wet’.

Go to the toilet before using the pool. If your child needs the toilet later, get out of the pool to avoid accidents. Please tell a member of staff if your child has had an accident in the pool.

Do not swallow the pool water.

Babies should wear secure water-proof nappies when in the pool. Babies wearing standards nappies should not use the pool.

Costume and nappy changing should be done in the designated changing area only.


We would welcome any additional feedback relating to Latchmere Leisure Centre, which you can do so either directly by email to enquiries@latchmereleisurecentre.co.uk or by telephone on 020 7207 8004. As well as being keen to take your comments and views on board we will respond personally to each individual.

[LauraBrown]

This thread cries out to me that we all need to take responsibility for improving things... Ensuring your toddler avoids drowning is surely (apart from in very exceptional circumstances that I presume must have applied in this case - I don't want to be horrible as it must have been awful and hope the child involved is ok) mainly the responsibility of the parent? Not having nappies on the floor? Again, parents... Not wearing outdoor shoes around the pool even when overshoes have run out? Again, parents - just take off your shoes and socks for goodness sake! Not taking kids with stomach bugs to the pool so they can't be spread? Yep, parents...

Thanks for commenting LatchmereDC - hopefully the improvements will continue and the people using the centre will help too!!

[Joeybar]

Here here LauraBrown. Well said.

[toobusymum]

I have been to Clapham Manor pool and it's really good, the so named teaching one is suitable for splashing and you can go for that during weekends (although it gets quite busy and you may need to wait shortly) and weekdays, early before the swimming lessons start.

[Souza]

Hi Latchmere LC - I'm glad you have replied. This public thread is very damning - & I hope you will actually implement changes - rather than rely on a 'PR speak' response in this thread....

The point you have not addressed is rude reception staff who spend most of the shift engaged in personal gossip....

[Mingg]

I also used to go to Latchmere and have been there quite a few times when there has been poo in the water. I found it surprising that the pool was never closed after these incidents - the lifeguards just went around with their nets picking up the biggest pieces and then the swimmers were let back in. My son has swimming classes at Queen Mother's and they always close the pool for 3 hours to ensure the water in thoroughly disinfected... (This has happened 3 times in the last 4 years while we have been there.)

[Souza]

Thankfully we are now in an internet age with great public discussion forums like this - so each of us can report back our experiences at LLC to the wider public. Previously management would fob off concerned patrons with "sorry it's a one-off isolated incident"

[k2blues]

That sounds disgustiing. We go to putney leisure to swim and whilst any public pool can get grotty the latchemere sounds like a health hazard.

[busybee5]

My son has swimming lessons every Saturday morning he had his swimming lesson as usual on the 20th October towards the evening he started itching his skin saying that its tingles I checked his body to find he was covered in a huge red bumpy rash he then for a temp I got abit concerned and called to his dad who straight away rushed him to A&E at Chelsea & Westminster to be told he's had an allergic reaction to something the doctor gave him allerief and said the rash will die down on Tuesday the rash got worst and my son was real poorly we rushed him in A&E again to be told he's caught an infection that's usually contracted in swimming pools I was furious I called Latchmere to see if there was any reports the staff assured me that the pool is a clean place and no one made any queries about rash or infection My son rash has still not gone down he missed his next swimming lesson on the 27th and we are in week 2 of this awful skin infection I to have made a complaint but still has not heard anything of it. The hygiene is very poor the staff are unprofessional and no help at all, we will continue swimming lessons for our son But elsewhere.

[busybee5]

Hi Petal

They just said a skin infection, The doctor did ask if he had been anywhere with poor hygiene or animals
So now i think about it that was the only place he had been
and i can totally agree towards the comments about the changing areas it is very dirty

[MGMidget]

It makes me mad when I hear about how often poo gets into the water at the Latchmere. This is the responsibility of the parents - shame on them for not using appropriate swim nappies on toddlers or older children if they still need them. Perhaps the leisure centre needs to put up some clear notices on what is acceptable swimwear for babies and toddlers of a certain age in the pool and ask any parents and children to leave the pool if they don't follow this. It strikes me that the centre needs to step up both its hygiene and the setting and policing of rules!