In the summer of this year members of UCLH’s sport and social Club in Gower Street who turned up to swim in the club’s pool were disappointed to find it closed because of maintenance problems.
In the autumn news emerged that the much-loved swimming pool at the 52 Club was to be closed permanently. At the same the club announced to users of the gym and sports facilities that there would be no showering facilities for six weeks while the changing rooms were upgraded. Despite being only three lanes and 18 metres long the pool was very popular many people took swimming lessons there.
Residents at a liaison meeting in November were told by representatives of UCLH that the cost of repairing the pool would be around £1,000,000 and that this was not a price they were prepared to pay. The residents at the meeting, some of them associate members of the 52 Club, argued that the swimming pool provided much needed recreation for hospital workers and provided an important preventative health service. Residents asked why when UCLH had so much unused property and land in Fitzrovia that they couldn’t find the funds to refurbish a pool that was very much part of the life of the sports club.
UCLH’s representatives said the decision had been taken to close the swimming pool after careful consideration but stressed that the current refurbishment of the changing rooms due to be completed by the end of the year would be welcomed by all users.