'Service failures' at Spalding and Long Sutton leisure facilities to be discussed by South Holland District Council

A series of ‘service failures’ which led to closures at swimming pool and leisure facilities in the area will be discussed by South Holland District Council next week.

Operating company Parkwood Leisure have been ‘put on notice’ by the council, a report for the performance monitoring panel has stated.

A total of 22 incidents between April and June at Spalding’s Castle Pool have been reported, leading to three full closures and 19 partial closures.

There were eight uncontested failures to deliver service by Parkwood Leisure.

“These failures involved a combination of staffing shortfalls and pool water quality issues,” the report read.

It added that the causes of the remaining 14 incidents included an electrical surge following a storm, teething problems following the installation of a new building maintenance system, the replace of a dosing controller and a further incident which was rectified within the hour.

Four incidents associated with water quality remain disputed.

Ten incidents at Long Sutton’s Peele Leisure Centre in May and June led to one full closure and nine partial closures, with eight uncontested failures to deliver service.

Reasons given included staff being relocated to the pool or due to a sewage pump failure.

“Parkwood Leisure was put on notice during the quarter, whilst the council started investigating each closure and the council is currently in the process of managing these service failures through the terms of the contract and through additional monitoring of management practices,” the report added.

The report added general swims and swimming lessons at the Castle Pool are up against pre-pandemic levels and spectator numbers and gym usage are also steadily increasing.

However, sport centre usage is still recovering from Covid and total usage is slightly lower than the same period pre-pandemic.

Peele Leisure Centre usage has decreased compared to the same period last year and pre-pandemic.

The Performance Monitoring Panel will meet on Wednesday.