THE city council has defended a decision to ban prams and pushchairs from the sides of the city's main swimming pool.
Prams can no longer be wheeled on to the poolside at Peterborough Regional Pool, in Bishop’s Road, amid fears over health and safety.
Despite opposition from parents, a Peterborough City Council spokesman has today said the ban will ensure the poo
l is a safe environment for all users.
Spokesman Mike Lennox said: “Taking prams and pushchairs into pool areas poses several hygiene and safety hazards, which the city council believes are unacceptable.”
However, the decision has bemused some pool users.
The first Peterborough mum Sue Mayo heard of the ban was at a mother and tot class, held at the pool.
She said: “The two mother and tot classes were told they could not take prams poolside any more for ‘health and safety reasons’.
“Apparently someone had made a complaint in relation to dirt. But this is wiped off the wheels on the reception matting and has never caused any visible dirt.
“We must suppose that a few germs, which we assumed the chlorine in the pools and footpaths were there to eliminate, is more important than the very serious safety issue of carrying babies and children on a slippery, wet surface.
“The only safe place for buggies is the four pram locks located outside the changing rooms.
“There is nowhere to safely put your child down while unlocking and opening the buggies. All this would have to be done one-handed, while both mother and baby – still in their swimming costumes – are dripping wet and getting cold in the public corridor outside the changing rooms.
“Surely the council should be looking to create easier access for supporters of their facilities, not to make it harder?”
Mr Lennox added: “It is recognised that prams are a hazard in a swimming pool hall, and they are banned in swimming pools across the country.
“Pram wheels – along with outdoor footwear – can carry street dirt and germs that may multiply in the humid conditions of the swimming pool.
“These germs are likely to cause verrucas on the feet of swimmers. In addition, prams may create an obstacle to pool users, roll off the pool surround into the water, fall on to someone in the pool or obstruct the line of sight of pool attendants, preventing them from seeing someone who may be in difficulty.
“It may also be difficult to ensure that objects do not fall from prams and pushchairs and present a danger to pool users.”
