Tottenham Green Pool should be run for the people

Returning to a state of health after lockdown is not easy. Obesity soared during the pandemic; children especially are carrying more weight after years of confinement. The British Medical Journal identified that children and adults in deprived and under-resourced areas are the worst affected. Local sports and leisure providers have a key role to play. Tottenham Green Pool and its manager, Fusion Lifestyle, must step up.

Since the infamous chlorine gas leak in 2019, which saw four people hospitalised, Fusion Lifestyle has loudly congratulated itself on improving safety at the pool, but resident concerns remain unanswered. 

The centre is over priced in comparison to other pools in the area. An adult swim at Tottenham Green is £8 compared to Archway’s £5.65, or Kentish Town’s £6.85 for non-members. And what do you get for the higher prices? Certainly not better maintenance.

The pool and changing rooms are notorious for filthy conditions, with local parents labelling it “disgusting” in online forums. The floors are not swept, let alone disinfected regularly enough; showers are regularly left clogged with hair and debris, plasters can be seen sunk in the bottom of the pool. This wouldn’t be acceptable before the pandemic, and it raises serious questions about the Covid security of the facility. 

But many don’t even get the chance to look at the state of the changing rooms. Swimming lessons and sessions are still being cancelled with no warning, discouraging families from making the booking in the first place. 

Communication is appalling. Bookings can only be made via an unreliable app, on which it’s even possible to make bookings which contravene centre rules (for example, booking for two children to attend a wave session where the ratio has to be one adult per child). There isn’t even a warning about the rules.

But there is hope. ACORN Haringey, a local residents’ action group, has taken up the campaign to demand a better service for the area. On Saturday, 25th June, we gathered outside the pool to deliver our demands with inflatables. Backed by a petition gathering hundreds of signatures, we are pressuring Fusion to make much-needed changes around affordability, management and maintenance. Through a series of creative direct actions, we plan to highlight these issues and call on management to make change. 

Tottenham deserves a leisure centre which is clean, affordable, well maintained and reliable, where families can swim together and where the community is served with respect. 

In response, Fusion Lifestyle has said it will be launching new pricing and cleaning procedures in Tottenham Green over the coming months. The company also said it is driving recruitment for swimming teachers to prevent cancellations. In line with feedback, Fusion said it will be reintroducing a monthly members forum and meet the manager meetings to give customers the opportunity to voice their thoughts.

If you would like to join ACORN’s campaign to fight for a better pool:

Email [email protected]

Find ACORN Haringey on Facebook facebook.com/acornharingey