South Wales Evening Post - 11 February 2008
Swimmers dropping into Swansea's newly refurbished leisure centre will have to wait until 4pm on weekdays to make a splash.
Anyone wanting to take a soak in the LC's pools before that will have to sign up for one of a range of classes or group activities, while the water park slides and attractions will be turned off.
However, the pool and aqua park will be open to all during weekends or on bank and local school holidays.
Bosses of the £32 million attraction say other pools are available in the city for casual swimmers and that the LC is a leisure pool, not a swimming pool.
A spokeswoman for the LC said: "The National Pool is a fantastic, world-class facility on our doorstep and the LC would never want to compete with that, and as a result has a completely different offer catering for different needs."
But the arrangements have met with a wave of criticism from opposition councillors.
Labour group leader councillor David Phillips described it as a broken promise and said he wanted older people, parents and visitors to have a fairer deal."
The opening times comes on top of the news that it would cost £7 to get into the centre and that free swimming for older people and young people has been scrapped," said Mr Phillips.
"The Lib Dems promised local people a new leisure centre. Instead what they will end up with is a rip-off, part-time pool - it's shocking.
"The people of Swansea were promised 'their' leisure centre back. What they've been given is a tourist attraction, geared towards visitors rather than the local people who paid £32 million for it.
"This is a slap in the face to hardworking parents and older people in Swansea, who will be shocked that not only are they being hit in the pocket, but won't even be able to use the pool during the day."
But Swansea Council leader Chris Holley reacted angrily to the criticism.
"It's not a type of swimming pool that you go swimming in - it's a water park," said Councillor Holley.
"If you want to go swimming there are several pools in Swansea available to the public.
"I will not accept any criticism at all with any member of the Labour party particularly with regard to the leisure centre."
The Labour Party closed it after neglecting it and we have put a lot of money and effort into opening this first class facility for the benefit of the Swansea and South West Wales economy, and for visitors.
"I am confident the facilities will speak for themselves once it opens."
