I understood that but I'd be hard pressed at the moment to find any month where I could pay that.
Lambeth Council bringing Leisure Service/ Brixton Rec Management In-house
- Thread starter Gramsci
- Start date
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I went back and looked at the officers report for the Scrutiny committee back in January.
( I posted about this in earlier pages.)
On pricing it says this:
Now my £1.50 Better swim if I remember correctly was off peak.
I find it a bit strange that the App is saying £2.65 for every single time slot. Whether it is at peak times or not.
A theory could be that the pricing on the App is still incorrect. It is just showing peak time prices.
Another question for the hard pressed reception.
( I posted about this in earlier pages.)
On pricing it says this:
Now my £1.50 Better swim if I remember correctly was off peak.
I find it a bit strange that the App is saying £2.65 for every single time slot. Whether it is at peak times or not.
A theory could be that the pricing on the App is still incorrect. It is just showing peak time prices.
Another question for the hard pressed reception.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Contact - Active Lambeth
active.lambeth.gov.uk
Sent a query in on this section of the website asking about the 66 plus senior / the no peak and off peak swim prices / how much have memberships gone up by.
An experiment to see what happens.
With Better didnt get reply. See if their is an improvement.
I had one reply to a contact form enquiry which was not quite the full story ( 'you don't need to do anything your membership and benefits will be carried over'] And then only a blank automated reply from the Active Lambeth email address to my most recent query about prices.Contact - Active Lambeth
Sent a query in on this section of the website asking about the 66 plus senior / the no peak and off peak swim prices / how much have memberships gone up by.
An experiment to see what happens.
With Better didnt get reply. See if their is an improvement.
By the way, I just looked at the booking website again. It now gives me £2.65 for off peak swim and 4.43 for peak for my Senior Pay and Play. And I spotted one page where it still says there is a concession for over 60s but when you try to buy a Senior Pay and Play it is over 66.
I will try contacting them again with screenshots, I think the first email I got from them had someone's direct email address in the signature.
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
I returned to the Rec again today. I wanted to know if the £4.43 off peak price for a swim with Pay and Play is correct. I was paying £2.80 last week.
The staff on the front desk were incredibly polite. And honest. I was told:
"No one actually knows what the prices are. Your best bet is to hang tight and hope that it resolves itself."
As a general rule, I don't ever book something if I don't know what the actual price is...
The staff on the front desk were incredibly polite. And honest. I was told:
"No one actually knows what the prices are. Your best bet is to hang tight and hope that it resolves itself."
As a general rule, I don't ever book something if I don't know what the actual price is...
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Within minutes of posting, an off peak Pay and Play swim is now showing £5.92 for me. They're making this up as they go along.
I really LOVE swimming. But I'm not prepared to pay a penny until a definitive price list is actually published.
I really LOVE swimming. But I'm not prepared to pay a penny until a definitive price list is actually published.
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
From the Lambeth 2023/24 Budget:
And so it looks like I should be charged £3.69 for a swim - still an increase on the previous £2.80. But kinda acceptable. The Active Leisure app lives in its own fantasy eco system.
And so it looks like I should be charged £3.69 for a swim - still an increase on the previous £2.80. But kinda acceptable. The Active Leisure app lives in its own fantasy eco system.
Agent Sparrow
the age of slippers and migraines
Is it all the Lambeth non profit gyms then rather than just Brixton Rec?
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Lambeth Budget/ price increases of Rec set/ link to Budget
Prices for Rec start at page 150/ page 78 of 138 (which is appendix) of the budget
Link to Budget on this article in Brixton Buzz.
Prices are going up 10% / level of CPI increase forecast. Justification is increase in running costs.
Price levels in Budget are without VAT as this may change.
So when looking at these prices remember VAT will increase price.
Each Leisure centre has its own pricing. So I guess they differ.
Budget says prices in budget are the maximum levels. So take this as meaning not higher than this.
There are a lot of prices and here is some of the relevant ones for individual users.
Im still confused about the senior age. Some bits it is 66 plus. But it is not clear.
Pay and Play membership
Adult Real membership 39.77 per year
Adult Concession membership 6.04 per year ( does not say what senior age is)
Swimming pay and play.
Adult non member 4.94
Adult pay and play member 3.69
Adult pay and play concession 2.20
Junior non member 2,20
Junior pay and play member 1.68
Junior concession 1.20
Peak and off peak appear to have gone.
Gym pay and play
Adult non member 9.78
Adult pay and play member 7.33
pay and play concession 5.37
Peak and off Peak are gone. Same prices all day now. No more Peak and off peak pricing
Monthly membership
Active Lambeth Rec only 39.20
Active Lambeth Rec only off peak 29.47
Rec only 66 plus 33.40
Active Lambeth all centres 53.07
Active Lambeth all centres concession 23.77
Active Lambeth swim only 32.67 ( do not see concession rate for this)
There are also prices for NHS/ Corporate. I've no idea what this is.
I hope this helps to give some idea of changes.
Would have been nice of Lambeth to stick this up on big sign in Rec entrance.
Staff on reception are getting a lot of questions about prices as the App is not working properly.
Prices have gone up. But Lambeth have not explained it well. Or given any indication of how prices have changed from Better.
The Lambeth Budget treats the pricing as new. Does not include previous Better price so one can easily see what the change is.
This is leading to suspicion that Lambeth have hiked up prices.
Issues also;
What age is senior? As some part of budget it is 66plus
Why has pay and play off peak pricing gone?
Thanks to Tricky Skills was pointing out new pricing is in the budget.
Prices for Rec start at page 150/ page 78 of 138 (which is appendix) of the budget
Link to Budget on this article in Brixton Buzz.
Lambeth Labour budget calls for 2.99% Council Tax increase as LibDems and Greens call out Town Hall failure and waste
The Revenue and Capital Budget 2023-24 dominates the agenda for the next Full Lambeth Council meeting at the Town Hall on 1st March.
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Prices are going up 10% / level of CPI increase forecast. Justification is increase in running costs.
Price levels in Budget are without VAT as this may change.
So when looking at these prices remember VAT will increase price.
Each Leisure centre has its own pricing. So I guess they differ.
Budget says prices in budget are the maximum levels. So take this as meaning not higher than this.
There are a lot of prices and here is some of the relevant ones for individual users.
Im still confused about the senior age. Some bits it is 66 plus. But it is not clear.
Pay and Play membership
Adult Real membership 39.77 per year
Adult Concession membership 6.04 per year ( does not say what senior age is)
Swimming pay and play.
Adult non member 4.94
Adult pay and play member 3.69
Adult pay and play concession 2.20
Junior non member 2,20
Junior pay and play member 1.68
Junior concession 1.20
Peak and off peak appear to have gone.
Gym pay and play
Adult non member 9.78
Adult pay and play member 7.33
pay and play concession 5.37
Peak and off Peak are gone. Same prices all day now. No more Peak and off peak pricing
Monthly membership
Active Lambeth Rec only 39.20
Active Lambeth Rec only off peak 29.47
Rec only 66 plus 33.40
Active Lambeth all centres 53.07
Active Lambeth all centres concession 23.77
Active Lambeth swim only 32.67 ( do not see concession rate for this)
There are also prices for NHS/ Corporate. I've no idea what this is.
I hope this helps to give some idea of changes.
Would have been nice of Lambeth to stick this up on big sign in Rec entrance.
Staff on reception are getting a lot of questions about prices as the App is not working properly.
Prices have gone up. But Lambeth have not explained it well. Or given any indication of how prices have changed from Better.
The Lambeth Budget treats the pricing as new. Does not include previous Better price so one can easily see what the change is.
This is leading to suspicion that Lambeth have hiked up prices.
Issues also;
What age is senior? As some part of budget it is 66plus
Why has pay and play off peak pricing gone?
Thanks to Tricky Skills was pointing out new pricing is in the budget.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
All the Leisure centres face the same problems with the new App
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
The removal of non-peak discount for pay and play members is bizarre. It now costs me more to swim at peak times than during the quiet daytime period. An off-peak swim for me is now £5.92. This was £2.80 last week. How the hell can they justify an increase of 111% 
Lambeth Labour: "We're on your side."
I'm just not paying that. I'd rather not swim. Or maybe sign up for the Queen Mother steal of £23 per month.
Lambeth Labour: "We're on your side."
I'm just not paying that. I'd rather not swim. Or maybe sign up for the Queen Mother steal of £23 per month.
Good idea with Queen Mother, I just spotted that Camberwell is also Everyone Active now & has the same pricing, so I might join there once I lose my Senior Pay and Play. At the moment, I can still book with Lambeth for £2.65 during off peak hours. Tricky Skills were you logged in when it said £5.92? I only get this price when I am not logged in.The removal of non-peak discount for pay and play members is bizarre. It now costs me more to swim at peak times than during the quiet daytime period. An off-peak swim for me is now £5.92. This was £2.80 last week. How the hell can they justify an increase of 111%
Lambeth Labour: "We're on your side."
I'm just not paying that. I'd rather not swim. Or maybe sign up for the Queen Mother steal of £23 per month.
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Yes, logged in and still being quoted £5.92 for an off peak swim - a 111% price hike from last week!
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
All swims are now showing at £4.43 for me now. Which is progress. I can't book any classes though. The app just crashes.
I tried to book an off peak Vauxhall swim. This was £2.80 for me before the split with AL. It's now showing £5.15. So much for parity.
I tried to book an off peak Vauxhall swim. This was £2.80 for me before the split with AL. It's now showing £5.15. So much for parity.
I was over 60 pay and play and was only paying £1.15 with Better for an off peak swim.
It’s showing as £4.43 now for me as well (on the iPhone App) but in email from Active Lambeth I was told it should be £2.65 for a class (I was asking about a swim!).
So I’ve queried again.
Staff are very nice anyways and were just letting people in at Clapham Manor ….
It’s showing as £4.43 now for me as well (on the iPhone App) but in email from Active Lambeth I was told it should be £2.65 for a class (I was asking about a swim!).
So I’ve queried again.
Staff are very nice anyways and were just letting people in at Clapham Manor ….
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
It appears that off peak and peak prices have gone.
I am now paying 2.65 for my 60 plus
Like you off peak I was paying 1.15
There are two issues about the senior pay and play.
App is now saying when my old Better pay and play runs out I may need to be 66 to get concession.
Secondly where has the peak and off peak pricing gone?
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
And price has changed to 4.43 for me
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I did witness a chat between the front line staff today.
I feel sorry for them as they have had to deal with so many queries and upset people.
Basically the app is not working properly.
Showing wrong prices.
Giving wrong information. Someone said to me yesterday that their full borough wide membership used to include sauna
The app is now saying no. Frontline staff are letting people into sauna if they have old full monthly membership as app is probably wrong.
The other thing I hope is that the ever helpful reception staff will not get told off for letting people in for free. As they are taking position that if customer says app is wrong they let them in. Which imo is good policy.
But it is being made by those at the sharp end.
Where is the Council? Staff are dealing with this chaos.
I'm trying to remember when Better brought in app. I think Better app started during pandemic when they limited number of people coming into centre. And stopped paying at reception for health reasons. Perfectly understandable.
Before that I used to swipe my pay and play card and pay for swim at reception.
I don't remember this chaos when Better brought in their app.
I feel sorry for them as they have had to deal with so many queries and upset people.
Basically the app is not working properly.
Showing wrong prices.
Giving wrong information. Someone said to me yesterday that their full borough wide membership used to include sauna
The app is now saying no. Frontline staff are letting people into sauna if they have old full monthly membership as app is probably wrong.
The other thing I hope is that the ever helpful reception staff will not get told off for letting people in for free. As they are taking position that if customer says app is wrong they let them in. Which imo is good policy.
But it is being made by those at the sharp end.
Where is the Council? Staff are dealing with this chaos.
I'm trying to remember when Better brought in app. I think Better app started during pandemic when they limited number of people coming into centre. And stopped paying at reception for health reasons. Perfectly understandable.
Before that I used to swipe my pay and play card and pay for swim at reception.
I don't remember this chaos when Better brought in their app.
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Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Though Lambeth app is now saying that full borough wide membership excludes sauna.
I had someone yesterday saying this to me. That paying the full whack for membership used to include sauna use once a day
So another question for council is have they removed this?
Frontline staff reckon it's a mistake.
But from what I have seen the people at the top have not communicated with those at the sharp end actually what new pricing regime is.
How typical of Lambeth.
I had someone yesterday saying this to me. That paying the full whack for membership used to include sauna use once a day
So another question for council is have they removed this?
Frontline staff reckon it's a mistake.
But from what I have seen the people at the top have not communicated with those at the sharp end actually what new pricing regime is.
How typical of Lambeth.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Not for me. I was going to book swim tomorrow. It's for me a 60 plus senior pay and play member suddenly gone up from 2.65 to 4.43.
I can only
at how incompetent this all is Thank god for my friendly reception staff at Rec
It’s a bonkers situation! I see it’s all on that there Twitter as well.
Maybe it’ll get sorted once the school holidays are over and some senior Council staff get back to work (you never know).
Just worried for the future - for the staff and users - if this shambles continues….
Maybe it’ll get sorted once the school holidays are over and some senior Council staff get back to work (you never know).
Just worried for the future - for the staff and users - if this shambles continues….
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Really odd. I'm on the normal Pay and Play. I'm getting £4.43 now for a peak swim, and £3.28 for off peak - which now seems cheaper than it should be.
£8.51 is showing for fitness classes, which is pretty steep.
£8.51 is showing for fitness classes, which is pretty steep.
I should have tried to book yesterday then.
But I had an improvement too, my Senior Pay and Play swim now comes up at a flat rate of £2.36 for peak and off peak. The reply I got from Lambeth made no sense, said something about continuing the 15% discount for all activities for over 60s (or over 66s - they had both figures in one message). I had never heard of this 15% discount before.
And they wrote that the Senior Pay and Play concession membership will only be available for age 66 plus, but did not clarify whether I continue to get the discount until I am due to renew or just until they figured out that I am not 66 yet.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Report of the recent public meeting that took place before the management went back in house to Lambeth
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
If one bought a Lambeth pay and play leisure card under Better management then what I have know heard in the rumour mill is that you should still be paying Better prices until it runs out.
I am very concerned about the change to 66 for age to get senior concessions.
My understanding of meetings with Council is that the present concessions would remain under Lambeth and in some cases extended. As the promise of changing criteria needed to get disabled concession.
At no time in last year in run up to the handover did the Council at any time say they would be changing the over 60 concessions.
So I truly hope that is a mistake on the App which will be rectified.
If not Im going to complain about that.
At this time I have wait and see attitude.
It would , however , be very helpful of Council to put out a statement with list of price changes.
So it can be compared with what was put in the budget. And with Better prices.
I am very concerned about the change to 66 for age to get senior concessions.
My understanding of meetings with Council is that the present concessions would remain under Lambeth and in some cases extended. As the promise of changing criteria needed to get disabled concession.
At no time in last year in run up to the handover did the Council at any time say they would be changing the over 60 concessions.
So I truly hope that is a mistake on the App which will be rectified.
If not Im going to complain about that.
At this time I have wait and see attitude.
It would , however , be very helpful of Council to put out a statement with list of price changes.
So it can be compared with what was put in the budget. And with Better prices.
I'm going complain about the loss of the over 60s concessions, too, unless it turns out to be a mistake.
Who would I complain to? One of my local councillors or do they have someone responsible for leisure?
Am annoyed that they are doing this in the first place, and also because there was no advance warning or justificcation.
Is Lambeth really expecting to get more income from this? Not from me for sure, as I am cutting down swimming even with the current pricing.
And the pools seem to be less busy than they were before the pandemic, so they can't really be worried about all those over 60s swimmers cloggging up the pools & putting off more desirable monthly membership people
