coldwaterswim
Active Member
Did anybody here go to the meeting and know what was said? I do feel like things are falling apart at the lido 
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Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Closing the Lido ALL DAY today for pimping it out for a TV shoot is poor form. This is peak summer. It is a community facility. I would argue there is a strong case for Fusion breaking the terms of its lease, plus also the contract with members.
jimbarkanoodle
Well-Known Member
What has the 'Brockwell Park Event' twitter feed got to say about this? I can't see the posts anymore because they blocked me
DJWrongspeed
radio eros
It’s mad, why repair the ladies changing room during a heatwave. Agree above , pre booking is daft and must affect their revenue.
Ms Ordinary
randompointlesschemistry
The rumour I heard was incorrect, it was a user group not public meeting, but it was poolside (in public...) & with a Fusion manager & I think someone from Lambeth - from what I heard, they listed all the problems they could, and the Fusion bloke made excuses.Did anybody here go to the meeting and know what was said? I do feel like things are falling apart at the lido
So back to griping on Twitter I guess
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Are we at that point in the season when it's more economical to join the gym for a few months than to buy a summer season ticket?
coldwaterswim
Active Member
South London lido left with dirty floors and broken showers as swimmers fume
They fear the lido is being left to crumble
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
South London lido left with dirty floors and broken showers as swimmers fume
They fear the lido is being left to crumblewww.mylondon.news
Also article says Lambeth council were contacted to comment and didn't. They are the ones who are over seeing the contract with Fusion.
For Fusion to say maintenance is challenging is exactly the sort of management comment that is so aggravating. Council say same kinds of things.
It's not customers problem. We pay for service and they should just get on and do it.
Ms T
Honey-coloured ramparts
I think because of an incident pre-Covid when a massive queue of people decided to storm in because they were fed up with waiting and seeing the members bypassing the queue. That's what I was told the other day when I asked the same question.
The Management does seem to have recognised the issues and is taking action
“We are aware of some equipment and lockers not working, and we are working with our suppliers to repair these as quickly as we can. We are also currently carrying out a significant upgrade on our showers and changing rooms, which has meant some disruption, for which we apologise.”
“We are aware of some equipment and lockers not working, and we are working with our suppliers to repair these as quickly as we can. We are also currently carrying out a significant upgrade on our showers and changing rooms, which has meant some disruption, for which we apologise.”
DJWrongspeed
radio eros
Shame the cafe doesn’t open very early anymore. Was job hunting last summer and helped enormously to start the day there.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
I did join as a member, which means I can use the spa. Except when I tried to I discovered that both the steam room and hydrotherapy pool have clearly been out of action for some time. I was actually shocked.
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Buzzed: Financial questions surround Fusion’s management of Brockwell Lido
"If Lambeth had a clue about how to manage its contractors then it would be all over this"
"If Lambeth had a clue about how to manage its contractors then it would be all over this"
urbanspaceman
Well-Known Member
Does anybody know whether Brockwell Lido offers concessionary membership for over-65s ? I'called several times, but they never pick up. I particularly wonder about whether there are such concessions available on the "Foundation" membership tier (that is access only during the middle of the day on weekdays, normally £39.50 per month).
timsutton1
New Member
Private company ‘allowed to pick and choose’ who can use Lido
BRIXTON BUGLE – MAY EDITION 2024, pg 3Brockwell Swimmers Club has accused Fusion Lifestyle, which runs Brockwell Lido that it leases from Lambeth council, of reneging on an agreement to allow the club to run coaching sessions at the pool.
“We are yet again having to fight for use of our local, publicly owned, swimming pool,” said the club, which was founded in January 2016.
The Brixton Blog reported in May 2019 that 1,000 people had signed a petition urging Fusion Lifestyle to lift a ban on the club.
The club said that “after years of asking”, it had secured a meeting on 17 November last year with Fusion to discuss future hire of the pool for coached swim sessions.
The meeting was chaired by local Lambeth councillor Ben Kind, cabinet member for children and families, and attended by Tim Sutton, chair of Brockwell Swimmers, Fusion community and partnerships director Mark Rogers, and Fusion’s Brockwell Lido manager Scarlett Hayward.
“The meeting was amicable and the club put in an application for ‘coached swim sessions’ that same day, as agreed at the meeting,” the club said in a statement.
“The club received an email from Scarlett Hayward on 25 November stating: “I can confirm all the dates have been accepted” and an invoice (now paid) was received on the 30 November,” the statement continued.
The club says that five months later, on 3 April, it received an email from Mark Rogers saying that “Brockwell Swimmers are unable to run ‘coached’ sessions at the Lido due to our existing agreements” – even though the agreed contract clearly stated “coached”.
Brockwell Swimmers say Fusion’s agreement refers to a five-year contract agreed with Streamline Swim in 2018.
It says there was no tender process, nor consultation with the local community, user groups, nor Lambeth council.
The contract was renewed in 2023 which apparently awards exclusive swim coaching to “the small husband and wife run company,” the swimming club said, adding: “Fusion have refused to disclose to either Ben Kind or the club exactly what this contract says”.
Brockwell Swimmers also point out that a third organisation, Windrush Triathlon club, has been allowed to run its own coached swim sessions during the summer. Triathlon consists of running, cycling and swimming,
“It would seem that exceptions are being made, but not for Brockwell Swimmers,” the club said.
Brockwell Swimmers member Paula Ade said Fusion claimed Windrush was being allowed to coach because it is a triathlon club.
“We note that both Brixton Swimmers and Windrush are seeking to use lanes in the Lido for the same purpose and, therefore, fail to see how or why being a swimming club versus a triathlon club is relevant,” she said.
Club chair Tim Sutton said: “Windrush are not teaching cycling or running in the pool, they are teaching swimming, exactly the same as we are asking.
“It seems that a private company is being allowed to pick and choose which local sports clubs can use our publicly owned pool.”
Brockwell Swimmers treasurer Mary Pierce said: “We just want more inclusivity so that people and our club can have an opportunity. Brockwell Lido is such a lovely space.”
Brockwell Swimmers is a registered, volunteer-run, non-profit amateur sports club.
A Fusion spokesperson said: “There is an existing contract in place for the provision of swimming coaching by a highly experienced, longstanding, and local partner.
“This contract gives the provider exclusive rights to coaching at the Lido. This is due to expire early in 2028, we will review this agreement nearer the time as a matter of good practice.
“All groups including Brockwell Swimmers Club are welcome to hire lanes at the Lido subject to availability and in accordance with our booking terms and conditions.”
It is understood that Windrush Triathlon approached Brockwell Lido to enquire about coaching and that Fusion contacted Streamline to establish whether this would conflict with existing legal agreements.
Streamline Swim saw no problem with Windrush Triathlon coaching at the Lido.
www.brockwellswimmers.com
timsutton1
New Member
Swim Dem co-founder Nathaniel Cole in the Financial Times this week:
“Public infrastructure around swimming is, I think, a part of a wider conversation [about] how community assets are handed over to private companies,”
www.ft.com
“Public infrastructure around swimming is, I think, a part of a wider conversation [about] how community assets are handed over to private companies,”
Swim Dem Crew is making a bigger splash
Inside the club on a global mission to get people in the pool
timsutton1
New Member
Still waiting to see the minutes from this meeting? BLU MEETINGS | Brockwell Lido Users
Ms Ordinary
randompointlesschemistry
Sorry, don't know what the current offer for over-65s is, but I noticed there is also a 'Core Membership' which is £41 per month which is access anytime weekday & weekend, swim & gym only (no classes).
Which seems (relatively) good value compared to limited off-peak access for £39, and also to the summer swim-only season ticket which is £245 so works out at about £42 per month
Though I guess the £39 off-peak gives access to the daytime classes which is good if you're retirement age?
I recently got the Core Membership because I swim enough to justify a season ticket, but its easier to afford £41 a month than £245 upfront for the swimming season ticket.
It still bugs me that the combination of swimming prices & booking system seem to limit access to* low-income & casual user in the summer.
(eta I mean limit access for not limit access to)
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timsutton1
New Member
The Brockwell Swimmers club has launched a petition asking for greater access to the Lido:
ePetition - Brockwell Swimmers banned from training at the Lido | Lambeth Council
Our Lido was built for the use of the community. Please help us keep it that way.
ePetition - Brockwell Swimmers banned from training at the Lido | Lambeth Council
Our Lido was built for the use of the community. Please help us keep it that way.
jimbarkanoodle
Well-Known Member
Yet another petition concerning Brockwell Park because a very small group of people aren't getting their own way?
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
The fewer groups using the lido the better IMO. They are very irritating.
timsutton1
New Member
Not a small group.
timsutton1
New Member
During public hours the swimming club is presently only allowed the use of one lane once a month. That's just 12 hours in the whole year.
DJWrongspeed
radio eros
Perfect summer morning today, pool now above 20c.
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
I went earlier and it was lush.
Ms Ordinary
randompointlesschemistry
The late evening swims have been gorgeous too - open till 8.30pm some nights.
Though the good weather means the popular times are starting to be booked out a few days ahead.
Though the good weather means the popular times are starting to be booked out a few days ahead.
timsutton1
New Member
Brockwell Lido User Group AGM Sunday 17th Nov, 10am. Read the "latest" minutes here… https://brockwelllido.com/blu-meetings
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