Claygate Community Pool
October 2024
POOL MAKES A BIG SPLASH—THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS
Claygate Community Pool is a perfect example of what a local community can achieve through voluntary participation. What was once a summer-only open-air pool reopened in April last year as a fully enclosed state-of-the-art swimming facility.
Now 18 months old, the pool still relies extensively on volunteers but recently welcomed Jono Eskin, who has become pool plant manager in a part-time capacity.
The team was also pleased to welcome Monica Harding, Esher and Walton’s newly elected MP, to the pool recently. She dropped in to meet some of the volunteers and explore ways of helping and supporting the facility’s development.
One example of this is the prospective enhancement of the building’s solar generation capacity—with help from Claygate Parish Council and Elmbridge Borough Council. Increasing the number of panels on the pool roof and installing a new battery storage system would make this possible.
Discussions on funding for this will begin towards the end of this year. It’s hoped that many of the organisations involved in the original funding for the project will be able to help with this next stage of the pool’s evolution.
With 600 members, Claygate Community Pool enjoys great support from people living in the village. Membership is open to all Claygate residents, with expansion of the boundaries to cover parts of Hinchley Wood and the area of Esher beyond Arbrook Lane under consideration.
As well as a place for local members to swim, the pool is a hub for many local organisations: Kingston Royals Swimming Club provides lessons for juniors, which increases access to training for local residents; Claygate Scouts, Bupa Wingham Court Care Home and Angel Swim also use the pool for services ranging from rehabilitation to mother-and-toddler swim sessions. And, of course, the pupils of Claygate Primary School enjoy regular swimming lessons run for the school by Kingston Royals’ coaches.
The pool can also be used for birthday parties for children aged eight and over. Party times are available on Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes and include exclusive use of the pool for an hour followed by use of the community room for the celebration.
To join Claygate Community Pool, email claygatecommunitypoolmembership@gmail.com
March 2024
MORE SWIMMERS ON WAITING LIST TO BE INVITED TO JOIN
Claygate Community Pool has been open for a year and has expanded membership to 1,400 residents – with that number set to increase as more on the waiting list are invited to join.
And the response has been excellent, as seen in this feedback from the Reid family: “The pool is more than we could have imagined! Eco-friendly, fresh and bright, clean and full of other local families. It will be an asset for our family, our children and all generations.”
Members enjoy lane swimming and family fun sessions, and clubs and other groups make use of the facility, including Claygate Primary School, which provides regular swimming lessons, and the scouts, who use it for kayak training. Aqua Aerobic classes are held twice weekly and Bupa’s care home at Wingham Court uses the pool to help rehabilitate people with disabilities and complement the services available at its own hydrotherapy pool. Our partnership with Wingham illustrates our role as a community facility and underlines our commitment to providing a “pool for all”.
Claire Hooper, Home Manager at Wingham Court, says: “Swimming at Claygate Community Pool has been incredibly beneficial for our residents. Being in the water brings a great sense of freedom and continues to boost confidence. We are so pleased to have been a part of this fantastic project.” And Esther Calleja-Martinez, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist, adds: “From the therapy team’s point of view, we are very proud of our residents’ engagement and bravery during the swimming sessions.” Also available at the pool are one-to-one swimming lessons, parent and toddler classes and, at the weekend, a private hire option for pool parties.
Our principal partner is Kingston Royals Swimming Club, which runs classes for all types of swimmers from beginners to senior squads. You can find out more about these sessions at https://uk.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=lrmkrs.
The pool is run by a management group, supported by volunteers plus the help of local residents. It is open seven days a week and only closed for maintenance for two weeks in the summer and two weeks at Christmas.
The team thanks all members and looks forward to your continuing support as we enter a second year. Membership renewals are due in April, and we will be in touch with members directly regarding this. For more information, visit: www.claygatecommunitypool.co.uk. To inquire about joining, email claygatepoolmembership@gmail.com.
