Dive club's future secured

Members swim in school pool by Melissa Matthews (Thursday May 29, 2008)

WHEN Harlow Pool closed last year (2007), the Harlow Sub Aqua Club (HSAC) was left homeless and its future under threat. But thankfully they have now found a new home and lease of life.

HSAC diving officer Alan Harman told the Herald that the club has been using the pool at Brays Grove School.

"It's a shame we lost Harlow Pool so quickly," said Alan, "but our gripe is with the new pool. It's a shame they haven't built an Olympic size pool with diving boards.

"Harlow Pool has the depth. It was a nice wide pool where we could teach quite a few skills but unfortunately our needs have been forgotten by the council. It was ideal.

"The new pool may not be any good to us if it hasn't got the depth so it won't be used for training. We feel hard done by.

"We are in Brays Grove pool now, whihc is 1.8m deep, but we are hoping to move to Stewards Pool when Brays Grove closes."

HSAC used Harlow Pool since the 1960s but at the same time as losing Harlow Pool, the club was denied the right to train at a nearby lake as it is now exclusively for fishermen.

However, there is a glimmer of hope as Roydon Mill Leisure Park is opening its 40-acre lake to the club.

Director of Roydon Mill Leisure Park, David Brannen, said: "They were desperate and I would rather see the lake used.

"We have a lot of swimmers use it and people training for triathlons. It was us helping the community. It's such a popular lake for people coming to do open water swimming."

HSAC have used the leisure park's lake for diving three times so far and Alan hopes it will become a weekly slot.

He said: "The lake is huge. As you go on the train to London you can see it. It's a safe environment and fairly shallow so it's good for a first dive before diving in the sea."

The 60 member strong club travels to Eastbourne, Newhaven and Littlehampton along the south coast to dive at seas, but are grateful they are now able to train at the leisure park.

Anyone interested in doing a try-dive can call Alan on 07971 138045.