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People 'demand answers' on swimming pool closure

Dan Ayers
BBC News, Somerset
BBC Entrance of Frome Sport & Fitness centre. It's a bricked building with a huge sign above the double doors.BBC
Children's swimming sessions have been cancelled due to a faulty boiler

Parents are demanding answers after their children's swimming sessions have been cancelled due to a leisure centre's faulty boiler.

The pool at Somerset's Frome Leisure Centre is currently closed for kids after failing to meet temperature regulations.

Mother Lisa Darby said the situation is "frustrating" and has affected her daughter learning to swim.

Bosses of Fusion Leisure, the centre's operators, said they are "working hard to resolve the boiler issue" and added that the pool for adults is still in use "but colder than usual".

Father-of-three Doug Campbell said he would like the pool's leaders to answer why the pool has been closed twice in the last eight months.

"You just can't get a slot for kids swimming lessons now, and we've tried to seek alternative lessons but much of the time, other centres are fully booked," he said.

"The floor in the gym is in very poor condition and the soft play area upstairs has had a leak in the roof."

Man in red baseball hat. He's stood in a car park by a football playing field. It's a selfie and he's got a red top on.
Doug Campbell said he had to move gyms as it was getting "frustrating"

Anna Sabine, Frome and East Somerset MP (Liberal Democrat) described the "ongoing issues at Fusion are unacceptable".

"Members and families rely on this community facility, and they deserve transparency, compensation, and practical solutions.

"Fusion must explain how they will update customers, reimburse direct debit payments, and mitigate any impact to children's swimming lessons moving forward," she said.

Entrance of Frome Sport & Fitness centre. It's a bricked building with a huge sign above the double doors.
Fusion, who run the centre in Frome say they have "acted" on wider feedback about cleanliness and the building

A spokesperson from Fusion said the pool's repair works were "complex", but the new boiler will be operational by mid-July.

"The pool is still in use, but colder than usual. We adhere to industry guidance on swimming lessons, so our swim school is not currently operating in the pool.

"We would like to reassure parents that we will credit their accounts for any missed sessions and will offer catch up sessions in August.

"Our senior directors have met with Anna Sabine MP to update her on works and the team would be very happy to meet her again.

"We thank everyone for their patience while we work as quickly as possible to restore our facilities and equipment as quickly as possible," they added.

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