Anger over child swimmer supervision policy at Hamilton Water Palace

Feb 18 2010

LANARKSHIRE’S two councils this week defended their policy on the supervision of young children using public swimming pools.

It happened after Blantyre man David Weir and his wife, Nyree, tried on Sunday to take their two three-year-old nephews and six-year-old niece to Hamilton Water Palace.

However, the couple and the children were refused access because of rules, adopted by South Lanarkshire Council, on tots using their pools.

Under the policy, children under four must be supervised one-to-one by an adult.

Their supervision arrangements for older children is one adult for every two youngsters aged between four and eight.

Mr Weir, a 48-year-old service manager for a care organisation, complained to Water Palace management but was still refused access.

The couple then took the youngsters to Motherwell Aquatec but were told by staff there that the policy on child supervision was the same.

Mr Weir : “At the Water Palace, there is a clearly designated children’s pool area and that was where we were going to take the children.

“I am aware of health and safety concerns but it is surely sufficient to have two adults supervising three children in an area of shallow water where there is always a lifeguard presence.”

He considered the “blanket” policy to discriminatory, particularly against some single parents.

“If you were a single parent with young children, one of whom was under four, you would not be able to take them both swimming on your own until they were older,” he added.

“It means that because of this blanket ban, there will be a large swathe of children under four who will not be able to go swimming with their parents.

“What does that say about the council’s own efforts to encourage children to adopt healthier lifestyles.”

Mr Weir said the three children were crestfallen after being turned away from the two leisure centres and were taken to McDonalds to revive their spirits.

A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Leisure, who run the Water Palace, said they were only following guidelines laid down by the Institute of Sport and Leisure Management.

A spokesman for North Lanarkshire said they adopted the same guidelines in April 2004, and added: “This policy has been in operation for the last five years and is consistent with most operators in the country.

“We do sympathise with the family concerned and do all we can to promote swimming, for example through our free swimming initiative during the holidays.

“However, the health and safety of our customers is of paramount importance.”

Are the rules on swimming supervision rigid and potentially discriminatory or necessary to ensure that children can swim in safety? Write to the Advertiser at Press Buildings, Campbell Street, Hamilton, ML3 6AX, or e-mail mshaw@s-un.co.uk