Memberships for the Royal Commonwealth Pool are now available from the reception area at The Commie, although you have to wait another month for the facility itself to reopen.
An update on the Royal Commonwealth Pool will be produced to the council this morning. The pool has been renovated in a scheme costing just over £37m, and it is scheduled to open to the public again on 21 March 2012 when Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmers past and present will be there to participate in the opening ceremony.
A report to be put before the committee today will explain that there will be three pools at the Commie:- a 50m 8 lane pool which can be divided into two separate areas, a 25m diving pool with a moveable floor to allow it to be used for swimming too and a 25m pool with a moveable floor for warming up.
As well as this there is a dry diving area with trampolines and springboards for practicing outside the water, a new gym and fitness studios and a whole host of other facilities such as changing rooms, meeting rooms and conference rooms.
The council’s plan is to offer sessions for all ages from babies upwards, and also to offer courses and activities to those with additional support needs. The teaching pool will be slightly warmer than the others as it will probably be used by children more than any other group.
The whole complex is now deemed to be more accessible by the addition of grab rails and emergency response alarms in changing areas and toilets, as well as an overhead hoist in a dedicated changing room. There will be viewing areas for wheelchair users and an induction loop in the reception and seating around the pool, and of course dedicated parking spaces for those with limited mobility or adults with children have been marked out in the car park.
Edinburgh Leisure workers have been helping the construction company since earlier this year in the filling and testing of the pools and all other mechanical installations, and they are in training now in anticipation of the reopening.
The new pavements outside the pool are laid with Caithness flags which should improve the look of the area.
The Culture and Leisure Committee meet today at the City Chambers.
Here is the full agenda:-
