Public swimming pools mapped

Nearly three million Londoners have poor access to public swimming pools and this number is likely to increase in the run-up to the 2012 Games, a new London Assembly report reveals.

Over a third of Londoners live more than 20 minutes walk from a public swimming pool2 – such pools which are the most easily accessible make up only 37 per cent of swimming pools in London.

Despite the focus on encouraging Londoners to swim as part of the 2012 sporting legacy and plans to open more pools, anticipated pool closures for refurbishment suggest the actual number of pools will not change significantly by 2012.  Also London’s population is likely to increase in this period by nearly 4 per cent.

The major mapping exercise by the Assembly’s Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee found that Londoners living more than 20 minutes walk away from a public swimming pool tend to live in the outer boroughs, which also have lower access to public transport.

It also mapped London’s diving facilities showing there are only 11 diving facilities in London, in 9 of London’s 33 boroughs.

Dee Doocey, Chair of the Scrutiny Committee said:
“Getting more people swimming is at the heart of plans for a sports participation legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our report highlights that in 11 London boroughs half the population live more than 20 minutes walk from a public pool.  In many cases these are boroughs that have poorer access to public transport. The maps show that Londoners’ access to public swimming pools will not have improved by 2012 despite the focus on swimming as part of the 2012 sporting legacy.”

Colin Brown, Director of London Swimming said:
"Public swimming pools are the backbone for provision in London. This report clearly shows that although London has a high number of pools we have some significant gaps and that accessibility for more than a third of the population is poor."

The findings of the Assembly’s study seek to shape the Mayor’s London Legacy Plan for Sport and will be discussed further at the Committee’s meeting with Kate Hoey MP, the Mayor’s Sports Commissioner, on 14 October 2008. Download the report / View the Webcast of the meeting