Swimmers’ parents fight development plans which will shut leisure centre

By Kiro Evans, Local Democracy Reporter

A father is fighting to keep his local leisure centre open as he fears temporarily closing it could wreck his childrens’ future as professional swimmers.

Mark Bond, 55, is determined to stop plans which will see the leisure centre temporarily shut and the shopping centre partially demolished while 990 flats are built.

The controversial plans are set to go to Bromley council in the coming weeks amid widespread opposition from locals.

The Orpington Ojays swimming club been a presence at Walnuts Leisure Centre since the pool opened in 1973.

They host over 280 swimmers, including 250 children, overseen by 25 paid coaches and 40 volunteers.

Developers Areli say they will deliver a new eight lane 25m competition swimming pool with spectator seating.

But Mark fears for competitive swimming for young people in the borough, including his three kids Lauren, 15, Carys, 13 and Lucas, 10 – who he took swimming when they were only 10 weeks old.

He said: “If things go ahead as they stand, we are going to have to tell 250 kids, who have dedicated their lives [to swimming] … ‘guy’s, that’s it.’

“It is their life, they have put so much into it, and they have to work around school. There just needs to be some continuity.

“[Since lockdown], they have only just really got back to the standard they were. Now we’re faced with potentially having to stop.

“They would never come back into competitive swimming after two years – like any athlete, they would stop. We would probably lose all our 11 to 18 year olds. Orpington would lose competitive swimming.”

His three kids have won a total of 191 medals.

The youngest, Lucas, who has made four Kent County Championship finals, aspires to swim at a higher level and says he fears being “torn away” from his friends at Ojays.

His sister Carys added she would be “miserable” without the pool.

Kerry Barrett, whose son attends the same swimming pool, fears the mental health impact if the planning proposal was pushed through.

She said: “With Covid-19, we’ve had a little glimpse of what it’s like when the leisure centre is closed and the pool is closed and nobody could do anything. 

“And we all know how awful it was and the effects it had on kids.

“And I feel that, coming out of Covid, for anyone to even consider closing a leisure centre just seems like to me a ridiculous move when we know how important it is to stay fit and stay well and how important leisure centres are in people’s physical and mental health. It makes no sense to me.”

Areli have defended their plans and say they will deliver an improved pool.

The firm said: “Over the past two years, we have undertaken the largest public consultation exercise ever in the Borough. This included eight days of public consultation events, and over 120 hours spent in consultation (events, webinars, roadshows, and stakeholder meetings).

“We have had 2,500 local people attending either a consultation event or a webinar and have received over 1,300 pieces of feedback.

“The leisure centre proposals, which have been designed with Sport England and in accordance with their guidance, will provide a new 8 lane 25m competition swimming pool with spectator seating, enabling Orpington to host licensed swimming competitions which it cannot currently, due to its imperial dimensions.

“Bromley council and the operator of the current leisure centre are already looking to ensure that the other leisure centres in the borough are available during this period for users of the Walnuts Leisure Centre.

“At nearly 50 years old the leisure centre will have to be refurbished soon, which is highly likely to need a period of closure for this refurbishment.

“It is the most efficient time and setting to do this with the redevelopment of The Walnuts Shopping Centre.

“The scheme will be delivered on a phased basis and the leisure centre will not be required until 2023 at the earliest.”

Bromley council has been contacted for comment.

Pictured top: Mark Bond with his daughters Lauren and Carys (image: Mark Bond)