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Hopes for 'sanity' in Enfield swimming dispute

2:21pm Friday 23rd September 2011 in News Photograph of the Author By Tristan Kirk

HOPES are high that a deal can be struck next week to centralise swimming classes in Enfield and guarantee the future of the borough's competitive clubs.

A row broke out on Monday when Edmonton Phoenix and Griffins swimming clubs said they fear they are being forced out of business by leisure operator Fusion.

The not-for-profit organisation, which runs Enfield Council's leisure centres, wants to take over all learn-to-swim programmes from the four clubs in the borough.

But the clubs reacted with fury when Fusion bosses said they would only offer two years of pool subsidy to help the clubs continue to train and compete.

Colin Brown, director of London Swimming, said he was taken aback by the storm that ensued, but said he remains “very optimistic” that a deal will ultimately be struck.

He said: “I'm surprised at how it has blown up. My understanding from both parties is that negotiations have been ongoing over the last 12 months, this is not a thing that will be done quickly.

“It has blown up beyond where it needed to be, I'm quite surprised it has gathered this momentum.”

Meetings have been arranged between the clubs and Fusion for next week, where it is understood Dan Reynolds, Fusion's head of sports and community development, will return to the discussions having missed the last meeting.

Mr Brown said: “A couple of key people weren't present [at the last meeting], and whether the message was delivered or something was misunderstood – something went wrong in the meeting.

“It seems to have gone into all out war mode, and in my experience this only leads to entrenchment.

“But sanity seems to be reigning, and hopefully they will get round the table and have a bit of a reality check.”

Senior councils and officers have also been drawn into the row, in a bid to find a solution that is agreeable to the clubs and to Fusion.

The clubs launched a petition yesterday calling for the council to step in to “save swimming in Enfield”, and have been lobbying hard for political support for their plight.

Fusion said on Wednesday that there is “an opportunity” for a deal to be struck, but stopped short of guaranteeing the issues will be ironed out.

The Enfield Independent asked Fusion to outline what options are currently on the table, and we await a reply.

Comments(13)

colinh63 says...
6:32pm Fri 23 Sep 11

I welcome Colin Brown's comments but the so called negotiations with Fusion were all about what Fusion wanted from the clubs with no practical discussion about the future of the clubs, just spin. Actions speak louder than words and when reasonable requests for concessions were made and dismissed out of hand it was apparent what Fusions intentions were. Consequently actions were taken to highlight the issue at local level, nothing more. It has grown because it is a valid cause.

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neophix says...
8:15pm Fri 23 Sep 11

"An opportunity for a deal to be struck" sounds more like "this is what we want to do take it or leave it. Why has the local authority allowed this to even become a negotiating issue. Surely the priority here is the young people of the Borough being able to access value for money swimming at all levels, not an "opportunity" for fusion to make a quick buck at everybody elses expense. Go take a look at what happened in the Borough of Southwark if you want to see fusions track record. It is because people care that it has become an issue

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whiteswan says...
9:39pm Fri 23 Sep 11

Totally agree with comments made by neophix and colinh63.... the local authority need to step and resolve this issue and PDQ ! Where is your backbone council ... this is our community which is at risk here and what with the recent riots in Enfield surely swimming clubs such as Edmonton Phoenix SC and Griffins SC should be praised for what they do. Stand up and be counted Enfield Council and support your local people ! Your actions are being monitored very closely .... very closely indeed !

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loveswimming says...
11:29pm Fri 23 Sep 11

Come on Colin Brown, this is not war, this is a struggle for fair treatment, not the heavy handed, almost bullying actions of Fusion! The 'Big Society' already exists and thrives in Enfield, with a committed band of volunteers looking after swimmers right through from age 4 to 60+. We are not prepared to let a great thing go, our members are rallying around to protect something good in the Borough of Enfield, just when it needs it most!

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sgs312 says...
1:19am Sat 24 Sep 11

"Have a bit of a reality check"? Who does Colin Brown think those clubs are? A bunch of toddlers throwing a tantrum? How arrogant!

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whiteswan says...
9:32am Sat 24 Sep 11

Colin Brown .... do you work for Fusion ... or is that next week ??!!! talk about selfishly feathering your own nest ... I wonder what Mr John Crowther - Chairman of the ASA - will think of your support to his members ... well we shall see shall we .. Disgraceful !!

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IvorSkrewkyk says...
10:06pm Sun 25 Sep 11

"It seems to have gone into all out war mode, and in my experience this only leads to entrenchment."

And exactly what experience do you have of "war mode" Colin?

I think it is better when Colin Brown unfortunately has no comment to make.

http://tinyurl.com/c
olinbrownknows

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supporter of swimming clubs says...
8:45am Mon 26 Sep 11

Unfortunately the problems the clubs in Enfield face are being repeated all over the Country. The Leisure operators are taking over learn to swim programmes from the clubs who have the expertise and experience to deliver the next generation of competitive swimmers. Promises are made of funding and incentives that disappear once it is too late to do anything about it. The clubs, in good faith hand over their programmes losing their income but believing the Leisure operator will honour the agreements to subsides the water time for the competitive swimmers and feed the learn to swim into the clubs. Ask around and you will find that this doesn’t happen and the clubs are left high and dry with no feeder system and no income. The next step will be for the Leisure operator to step in and take over the clubs who can’t afford to continue once they have lost their feeder system and income stream. The common denominator in this all over the Country is not the Leisure operators or the Council it is our own governing body who are recommending to the Councils that a centralised programme for swimming run by the Leisure operators, be it Fusion, Parkwood or any of the other operators is the way forward. Before we know it the Leisure operators will have a monopoly on all swimming in Council facilities and the ASA policy makers will be long gone. What have the ASA done to help its members in Enfield?

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supporter of swimming clubs says...
8:46am Mon 26 Sep 11

Unfortunately the problems the clubs in Enfield face are being repeated all over the Country. The Leisure operators are taking over learn to swim programmes from the clubs who have the expertise and experience to deliver the next generation of competitive swimmers. Promises are made of funding and incentives that disappear once it is too late to do anything about it. The clubs, in good faith hand over their programmes losing their income but believing the Leisure operator will honour the agreements to subsides the water time for the competitive swimmers and feed the learn to swim into the clubs. Ask around and you will find that this doesn’t happen and the clubs are left high and dry with no feeder system and no income. The next step will be for the Leisure operator to step in and take over the clubs who can’t afford to continue once they have lost their feeder system and income stream. The common denominator in this all over the Country is not the Leisure operators or the Council it is our own governing body who are recommending to the Councils that a centralised programme for swimming run by the Leisure operators, be it Fusion, Parkwood or any of the other operators is the way forward. Before we know it the Leisure operators will have a monopoly on all swimming in Council facilities and the ASA policy makers will be long gone. What have the ASA done to help its members in Enfield?

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supporter of swimming clubs says...
8:47am Mon 26 Sep 11

Unfortunately the problems the clubs in Enfield face are being repeated all over the Country. The Leisure operators are taking over learn to swim programmes from the clubs who have the expertise and experience to deliver the next generation of competitive swimmers. Promises are made of funding and incentives that disappear once it is too late to do anything about it. The clubs, in good faith hand over their programmes losing their income but believing the Leisure operator will honour the agreements to subsides the water time for the competitive swimmers and feed the learn to swim into the clubs. Ask around and you will find that this doesn’t happen and the clubs are left high and dry with no feeder system and no income. The next step will be for the Leisure operator to step in and take over the clubs who can’t afford to continue once they have lost their feeder system and income stream. The common denominator in this all over the Country is not the Leisure operators or the Council it is our own governing body who are recommending to the Councils that a centralised programme for swimming run by the Leisure operators, be it Fusion, Parkwood or any of the other operators is the way forward. Before we know it the Leisure operators will have a monopoly on all swimming in Council facilities and the ASA policy makers will be long gone. What have the ASA done to help its members in Enfield?

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The Ponderman says...
7:30pm Tue 27 Sep 11

I pay over £12000 a year in various taxes to subsidise other people getting cheap facilities, enough is enough. If you want to swim pay the market rate to a private company then I may end up paying less tax in fact the council should provide no lesure facilities at all why should I subsidise services that I do not use?

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supporter of swimming clubs says...
10:05pm Tue 27 Sep 11

We pay taxes so that everyone can have opportunities not just the rich. The volunteers who run the swimming clubs also pay taxes as do the parents of the swimmers.The volunteers are not paid to run the swimming clubs they give up their time for the kids in our community to give them an interest, this keeps kids off the streets. Society benefits from the work the clubs do. You will find this is much cheaper than stopping riots on the streets of London.

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The Ponderman says...
10:11pm Tue 27 Sep 11

Do what I did, install your own swimming pool and stop being a drain on my tax bill

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