I take my child to The Bridge most Saturdays and they make good use of the Learner pool having 2 lessons going on. I think children of a certain age before about 8 or so are better taught in a learner pool.

They can stand up, they feel safe. The teacher has a confined and easily accessible space within which to teach them with fewer distractions. They slowly achieve confidence through getting their 5m, 10m badges. Once they have got to this level, they are happy enough and confident enough to tackle the big pool.

I do think a learner pool is essential to make the pool part of the community and get primary schools swimmings.

One issue that doesn't seem to have been addressed is how parents are going to take their kids to the pool or how schools are going to take their kids there. The majority hopefully will walk but there will be some who want to drive. There doesn't seem to be adequate provision for parking or a drop off area for coaches. The access road behind the Library on Thorpewood Avenue looks like a traffic nightmare waiting to happen as coaches and cars try to squeeze through a small space opposite a busy school.

The council seems to have dumped this parking and access problem on the local residents who will suffer while using the usual Green excuse of we expect everybody to walk.