Britain’s Best Back Hindley Pool’s Refurbishment

On Monday 23^rd May, Hindley Pool was officially re-launched as a centre providing specialist facilities for swimmers with disabilities and Great Britain’s best swimmers have come out in force to back Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s £110,000 investment.  Hindley Pool is now in the envious position of being one of the most easily accessible and fully inclusive swimming facilities in the whole of the North West.

Steve Parry, Great Britain’s bronze medal winner in the 200m butterfly at the 2004 Olympics, is full of praise for the new facility, “I think the vast improvements made to Hindley Pool are really exciting.  Anything that encourages people with all levels of ability to swim more regularly is a fantastic achievement.  People in Wigan and Leigh should be really proud to have such a facility on their doorstep and I’m sure people from across the North West will be heading to Hindley to use the specialist facilities because there just aren’t enough of them about.”

The refurbishment took ten weeks to complete and included:

• The creation of a changing room for those with severe disabilities, including hydraulic changing beds, showers and toilet facilities
• Installation of track hoist direct from the changing room into the small pool
• A brand new reception area and the refurbishment of the entrance area and corridors
• The improvement of the family changing areas.

These improvements are in addition to the two pool lifts already in use at the pool, together they offer a complete solution to transport, changing and transfer problems in the water activity cycle. One carer can now safely manage pool access and exit routines for sitting and recumbent users.

Paralympians Jennifer Coughlin, who is a World Championship gold medallist and Anthony Stephens, who won four medals at the Athens Paralympics in 2004, were guests of honour when the facility was officially re-opened on Monday.  Their appearance at Hindley Pool is sure to inspire many young swimmers to take up the sport and feel comfortable in an environment that meets their needs.  “This is great news for all people with disabilities that want to enjoy or begin swimming.  It is a fantastic sport and it’s one that anybody can participate in. I am really honoured to be asked along by the Trust to be a part of the re-opening and I’m thrilled that Hindley Pool can now offer these facilities,” said Jenny.

Lord Smith of Leigh, Leader of Wigan Council officially re-opened the facility and was proud of the work that has taken place. “One of the main reasons we launched the Trust was to provide sports facilities that are accessible to all members of the community. The transformation at Hindley is really exciting and is indicative of the path we are taking towards providing high-class facilities for all,” said Lord Smith.

Darren Birch, member of the Wigan Disability Sports Forum enthuses, “Having seen the improvements to Hindley Pool, I can say on behalf of the Wigan Disability Sports Forum and as a service user with a disability, they will have a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. The benefits to those people will be massive by allowing easier access to the swimming pool, regardless of what disability they may have.”

Albino Ferro, Community Sports Manager of Hindley Leisure Centre and Pool added, “This scheme will impact significantly on schools, groups, disabled users and their carers. As with the free swimming for under 16’s initiative, it shows that WLCT is totally committed to Getting Wigan Active and will endeavour to invest in its facilities to improve the services offered to the people of Wigan and Leigh.”

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The refurbishment work was carried out by: Contractor: Laurel Ltd, Consultant: NPS NW Ltd

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