Invigorating swims under peeling ceiling paint followed by waterless showers may soon be a thing of the past at the Port Alfred Public Swimming Pool, as a swim-thirsty public is digging deep into their pockets.
Invigorating swims under peeling ceiling paint followed by waterless showers may soon be a thing of the past at the Port Alfred Public Swimming Pool, as a swim-thirsty public is digging deep into their pockets.
Shortly after the establishment of the Port Alfred Marina about 15 years ago, an agreement was reached with the municipality to build a public facility, leading to the birth of the community swimming pool.
But a decade and a half of moms and tots, scuba diving, lane swimming and water polo practice has taken its toll on the public pool.
Pumps have worn down, causing the water temperature to drop and this has kept loyal swimmers away during the winter.
Aesthetically the pool has also suffered with peeling paint, but more importantly disintegrating ceilings and tiles have become a danger to the public. However, on 4 May, the town residents introduced the Save the Pool Project.
This project was spearheaded by the Midway Motorcycling Club who asked the manager of the pool, Anette Rossouw Crous, to pursue the initiative.
“The community has been wonderful. I am really proud of the work that has been done thus far. I just love it,” said Crous. So far Rob Brunette of RE Refrigerators has provided labour and heat pumps which were installed by Sparrow Pools.
An advanced monthly payment by eight morning swimmers have also allowed improvements to be made. A second heat pump has been fixed, the entrance and foyer area have received a makeover along with the ladies bathroom which received a paint job.
New cream tiles have also been fitted and the ceiling has been stripped in preparation for a new one.
Crous had 32 items on her wish list of improvements and the passionate swimmers are addressing them.
She explained that they hope to have everything finalised by the end of the year so that the lane swimmers can continue to exercise and that families can enjoy swimming there even during the winter.
