Letters RSS Feed


We need our pool

10:00am Thursday 29th July 2010 in


I am writing to you with regard to the proposed closure of Temple Cowley Swimming Pool.

Oxford City Council plans to close the centre, demolish it and replace it with a new facility outside the ring road at Blackbird Leys.

As a Temple Cowley resident and regular user of the pools, including gym and fitness classes, I feel this closure is totally unacceptable and also feel this could be damaging to our community.

The facility is well-used by local people, and whenever I am there, it is always busy.

I have lived in East Oxford all my life and have used this facility since I was a child – even before I lived in Temple Cowley.

When I was a child I learned to swim there and at Peers Pool. We travelled from school to use Temple Cowley in groups.

I know the pool is valuable to my community. Parents from the local area take their children swimming and the centre is used by the elderly because it is free to them. If this facility is withdrawn, these people may not be able to travel to the new proposed site and will stop going.

Swimming and fitness classes are a great way to meet people, keep healthy and socialise and this may be many people’s lifeline.

I also feel that local people are going to suffer enough with the Oxfordshire County Council cuts. We should not suffer any more withdrawals of local facilities.

The gym has, in the past year or so, undergone a major refit which cost a lot of money and is an excellent facility.

I am aware that jobs at Temple Cowley could be at risk. This may be very worrying for people especially during a recession.

I very seriously injured my knee in May 2009 and have had two operations to correct my injury.

Gym exercise and swimming are paramount to my rehabilitation and without this facility, which is so close to home, I would be limited as to where I could go to do my fitness.

I would value other readers’ comments on this proposed closure. I remain passionate in campaigning against this closure.

Chloe Woodley, Temple Cowley, Oxford

Comments(7)

Bart Simpson1 says...
12:32pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Why can they not travel to the new pool??? Are they thick or just stupid?? How do they travel to Temple Cowley?? What a load of twaddle.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

vponen says...
2:54pm Thu 29 Jul 10

I completely agree with what Chloe is saying we need that facility. I am also a local resident and a user of the gym classes. Its always busy in there so why is it being taken away? Money has just been spent on revamping the gym so why do that and then destroy it so soon, what a waste of time and money. In reference to the previous comment made about this article I think you will find that users of Temple Cowley are not thick or stupid. A lot of people are in financial hardship having to spend £2 on bus fare to Blackbird Leys or even more to catch two buses to Barton is simply not an option as it will be too much to spend on a leisure activity especially if they have children. You obviously have no understanding that a few pounds a day spent on transport is a lot of money for many users of council gyms. Its not just because its being relocated people are making a fuss its the fact its out of walking distance. Your seriously asking how people of Cowley get to Temple Cowley Pools? Temple Cowley Pools is central to Cowley and is easily accessed from Cowley and Cowley Road an easy walk away. If you actually thought about it before making stupid unhelpful comments you may find that Blackbird Leys and Barton are not an easy walk from Cowley. Travelling is not easy for everyone especially if they are elderly or have physical injuries making travelling on public transport difficult. If you have no understanding of that I think you will find that you are the one that is thick and stupid not to mention a fool. Your comments...what a load of twaddle...

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Bart Simpson1 says...
4:26pm Thu 29 Jul 10

mmmm lets see you get on a bus along the Cowley road somewhere, and guess where it goes to, Blackbird Leys, same cost and only one bus. Doh. You are so me me me, what about the people in Garsington, Blackbird Leys, & Littlemore, they will benefit from it being built in B.B/Leys. Why should they have to get a bus to Temple Cowley? You really need to get your story straight, one minute your saying its within walking distance, then your saying people are to old or disabled to get public transport?? How do they get about then. We are being offered a spanking new pool and all you can do is moan about that you will have to travel an extra mile. If you use the gym the extra mile will do you good. Stop being so selfish.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

vponen says...
4:46pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Oooh mate you are getting nasty i actually drive and do not need to use a gym I like to use it to remain healthy and socialise with my friends by doing a healthy activity. If you knew how to read you would see that I said Temple Cowley Pool is within walking distance for people in Cowley. If it moves to BB leys or Barton people will have to use public transport. How is my story not straight? Come on tell me how? You are dumb I wouldnt worry about a swimming pool mate you need to get down to the adult education centre and exercise your brain. You saying about people in Littlemore and Garsington well what about the people in Iffley and Holloway? Why should we lose something so established to build something new wasting tax payers money. Yes I did say some users of Temple Cowley are elderly not once did i say too old and not once did i use the word disabled I said people who have physical injuries do you understand what that means? If I was to use the word disabled in my last comment I would have in fact said physical disability not physical injury. So I think you will find that you need to read it again and get your story straight. If you still dont understand get someone to read it for you and explain it in more simple terms.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

vponen says...
4:56pm Thu 29 Jul 10

I dont want this to be a slanging match it is a good and worthy cause to back and shouldn't be discredited by back chat and rudeness. The simple fact is there are people on both sides of the debate with strong opinions and all of them should be heard.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Bart Simpson1 says...
6:39pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Well you started the insults, so I guess you must be retarded.You are typical of the selfish people supporting to keep open an outdated pool. You have had this facility near you for over 20 years and now that someone else might have this better facility nearer them you throw your toys out of the pram. I'm sure there are just as many old people that would be gratful for it to be built on B/B/Leys as it would be nearer them. But know you just keep thinking of yuorself again. Oh yuo have a car, then it does not matter to you where it is put. Doh

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

BigAlBiker says...
8:22pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Close it, i nearly drowned there when i was a kid, put me right back swimmin wise, had to learn at Westminister way. Knock it down.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

More Letters stories


Most popular



Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses