Watershed pool closure

waterbaba

The pool in the Watershed is closed for the next week or two for essential works on the tiles. I went in this morning ready to go for a mega swim and I was told they had closed at about 4pm yesterday:(

Really annoyed actually as I was just getting really into my swimming.

Anyone know where else is good for swimming (I'm fairly new to Kilkenny)? not mad about the thought of having to shell out for another pool when I'm already paying for the Watershed. Although, I get the impression that they're going to add the time missed onto the end of the membership???

I suppose I could go to the gym for the next couple of weeks, but that feels like a chore whereas swimming is enjoyable.

Raze_them_all

waterbaba wrote: »

The pool in the Watershed is closed for the next week or two for essential works on the tiles. I went in this morning ready to go for a mega swim and I was told they had closed at about 4pm yesterday:(

Really annoyed actually as I was just getting really into my swimming.

Anyone know where else is good for swimming (I'm fairly new to Kilkenny)? not mad about the thought of having to shell out for another pool when I'm already paying for the Watershed. Although, I get the impression that they're going to add the time missed onto the end of the membership???

I suppose I could go to the gym for the next couple of weeks, but that feels like a chore whereas swimming is enjoyable.

Swimming is more work than the gym!!! I presume the sauna and steam rooms are closed too??

brettmirl

Essential maintenance already? That doesn't sound good.

waterbaba

It's to sort out the slippery tiles, which is definitely a good thing!! But it should really have been thought about before they opened... They should have had a dry (hahaha) run!!

Pretty sure the steam room and sauna are closed too.

femur61

I've just looked at the web site and it said there're clsing the pool for two to three weeks! But knowing Ireland it will be more than that, glad I didn't join now as I swim a few times a week. :mad:

Patcha

Its not looking good for the councils.The arcitects and all the sub contractors i believe are blaming the watershed for stripping of the non slip surface on the tiles before opening up.They will end up having to go for a short term fix or taking designers and builders to court.Could be a long term closure me thinks.18m phew.:mad:

Firetrap

I don't swim there myself but a friend of mine does and has seen a few kids fall there. Crazy stuff altogether.

fabbydabby

I hope they use the closure time to put a water drinking fountain/ tap into the place.

Patcha

Ye i got caught looking for water myself.I was very keen to join but kids finished at 7 and early closing on week ends is very restrictive.Hopefully when they reopen they might revisit these restrictions and a water fount would be great.

miece

there is a water fountain in the gym if that helps ha

JohnMc1

miece wrote: »

there is a water fountain in the gym if that helps ha

Doesn't really work that well. I usually bring my own bottle of water.

Not to hijack the thread but just wanted to give people a heads up that the upstairs changing rooms are closed today due to construction. They must be finally putting a drain in the shower areas. The locker room was turning into a pool with all the water on the floor.

sandy09

i heard someone saying that new regulations mean can't put water fountain in pool area?? hopefully the pool will get sorted soon cos it is really good facility.

Tazpm

Heard a kid broke her arm when she slipped on the tiles. I think it was on the snag list so it falls back on the company that put the floor down. They say 3wks closure so it'll be 3 months before it opens.

KatCookie

I heard that someone broke their leg, whether it was an arm or a leg, a breakage is serious enough to close it down!
to the OP i read on a KK newspaper(cant remember which one) that for everyday it is closed, you get those extra days at the end of your membership, but i guess you could go to a Hotel leisure centre maybe..?

manus30

i heard it was the cleaning agent they used for cleaning the tiles..

Firetrap

That's what I heard as well. Presumably in the background, they're looking for an ass to kick. Why the hell couldn't they get the sort of tiles that have served swimming pools properly the length and breadth of the country for years? Any sort of tiles that can be made slippery just by using a cleaning agent (or, presumably, wear and tear down the line) sound seriously dodgy to me.

Fluffybums

waterbaba wrote: »

The pool in the Watershed is closed for the next week or two for essential works on the tiles. I went in this morning ready to go for a mega swim and I was told they had closed at about 4pm yesterday:(

Really annoyed actually as I was just getting really into my swimming.

Anyone know where else is good for swimming (I'm fairly new to Kilkenny)? not mad about the thought of having to shell out for another pool when I'm already paying for the Watershed. Although, I get the impression that they're going to add the time missed onto the end of the membership???

I suppose I could go to the gym for the next couple of weeks, but that feels like a chore whereas swimming is enjoyable.

You could try the Sean Kelly Sports centre in Carrick-on-Suir, they have a nice 20m pool and it is cheaper than the Watershed.

femur61

I was in the Watershed yestersday and they said they didn't when it was re-opening. but, apparantely you can use the pool in the Springhill (for €5).

waterbaba

Haven't been on here for ages!!

When it first closed I rang around all the hotels I could find in Kilkenny that had pools to see if I could use them as a casual swimmer, they all said no, their facilities were only for members and residents (apart from the Ormonde who were charging some astronomical fee - but it was for the use of all facilities rather than just the pool). This might have changed, I'll try the springhill again. Thanks for the advice!

I also heard that a pool in Cork had the same tiles put down and the same thing happened, so it seems the tiles aren't all they're cracked (;)) up to be.

I was in the Watershed the other day and they said that as soon as the work starts, it'll only take 48 hours till the pool is open again, they just don't know when the work is going to start!!!

waterbaba

JohnMc1 wrote: »

The locker room was turning into a pool with all the water on the floor.

Maybe they should have just sent us up there while the pool is closed!!:D

waterbaba

sandy09 wrote: »

i heard someone saying that new regulations mean can't put water fountain in pool area?? hopefully the pool will get sorted soon cos it is really good facility.

They said that they don't even have a tap near the pool for cleaning and the like, so they were hoping to fit a water fountain at the same time as fitting that tap. The girls on the desk said that to me so I don't know about regulations etc.

I seem to have a lot of information, maybe I spend a lot of time pestering the Watershed staff?? I don't mean to!! Oops!!

HHH

Apparently the pool is to re-open on Monday 16th.
The tiles have been treated and the non-slip surface has been restored.

waterbaba

Brilliant! Thanks for letting us know!!

I'll be in there first thing Monday morning (I say that now...)

waterbaba

Just found out, it's defo NOT opening on Monday, could even be another two weeks...

Also the Springhill hotel is 9 euros to use the pool, not 5 unfortunately, and I think that's only if you are already a member of the watershed. But for that 9 you get to stay for as long as you like and you can use the gym too - although I could use the gym in the watershed for free.....

Fluffybums

If they are just going to replace the previous coating, one has to wonder if another major clean will produce the same result. Of course, they may decide not to do a deep clean ever again.

Still wondering why it took so long for the powers that be to spot the problem. Most leathal pool flooring I have ever been on and it only took about 3 steps to spot it.

caprilicious

I heard the non slip tiles were fitted incorrectly ie non slip side facing down so they have to refit em

Hopefully it'll open again soon it looks like a gorgeous pool

Benny Cake

caprilicious wrote: »

I heard the non slip tiles were fitted incorrectly ie non slip side facing down so they have to refit em

Hopefully it'll open again soon it looks like a gorgeous pool

are these guys for real?? how f*cking stupid can they be........

Doffaldinho

caprilicious wrote: »

I heard the non slip tiles were fitted incorrectly ie non slip side facing down so they have to refit em

I heard this too.
/facepalm

JohnMc1

waterbaba wrote: »

Maybe they should have just sent us up there while the pool is closed!!:D

LOL. They should have at this rate.

Are they even working on fixing the tiles? I'm in there nearly everyday and I never see anybody working in the pool area.

rory007

is it true that the pool could be closed for another month and a half due to it failing a health and safety test during the week?..

Patcha

The watershed pool closure was blamed firstly on the cleaners and now the tilers, where will it end.Any way New Ross pool is nice and Clonmell is too.

EKRIUQ

Could of swore I saw another thread with this title

JohnMc1

rory007 wrote: »

is it true that the pool could be closed for another month and a half due to it failing a health and safety test during the week?..

Nothing would surprise me anymore. The whole situation is one big unintentional comedy.

rory007

yeah its stupid really not even a jacuzzi or sauna after the gym, nowadays ud think builders would jump at the chance to sort to out for the work theyd get.

HHH

Woah, just to clear it up, the tiles were definitely not put in upside down:D One side of a tile is prepared to receive the grout so the installers could not have put them in upside down!!!
Also the cleaning agent could not have taken the surface from the tiles.
The tiles are designed to last 50+ years without being replaced. A simple clean couldn't take off the non-slip surface.
The only logical explanations are that the wrong tiles were put in were wrong or that the tiles specified were the wrong tiles.
I don't understand why the entire pool area is closed tho. A set of mats could have been purchased and used until repair works had begun and limit the numbers using the facility. It would avoid an expensive facility lying idle for so long....

bennyob

will there be any refund/credit given to members who want to, but cannot access the swimming pool. at the end of the day, we are paying for something that's not being provided.

MassDeb8r

What they said as regards refunds/etc was that they would extend the membership for the amount of days it took to deal with the tiling issue. remains to be seen though.

Stephen

Threads merged.

JohnMc1

Just heard on KCLR radio that the pool could be closed for up to 12 more weeks. This is beyond ridiculous now. :mad:

Alzar

JohnMc1 wrote: »

Just heard on KCLR radio that the pool could be closed for up to 12 more weeks. This is beyond ridiculous now. :mad:

Heard that too. Does it suprise you though?
I wonder if The Watershed was a private business from the word go, would this have happened? How many hotels in KK have swimming pools and/or sauna area's & managed to get the tiles put down correctly first time?

Al.

Patcha

Seems like ownership was taken at a late stage long after the problem should have been picked up.Look on the bright side Easter is 2 weeks away and with a bit of nice weather the river will be swimable again.

JohnMc1

Alzar wrote: »

Heard that too. Does it suprise you though?

I wonder if The Watershed was a private business from the word go, would this have happened? How many hotels in KK have swimming pools and/or sauna area's & managed to get the tiles put down correctly first time?

Al.

If the Watershed was privately owned this would not have happened. The hotels don't have the kind of money [ie our tax/vat dollars] like the inept Council does. How fitting its an election year and this is happening.

femur61

Just been there and the girl originally said it could be weeks/months before opening again, a manager interupted and said it would be 2-3 weeks. But, looking at the other girls face she didn't believe her.

KatCookie

I was reading in the Kilkenny Advertiser today and there was an article about it being opened again?
EDIT: nope, went and reread the article again, damn lack of punctuation in the newspaper!
it reads "Update on swimming pool reopening date today" but i read it as Update on Swimming pool, reopening date (is) today, when i reality theres going to be a "media briefing" about the tiles! and theres no news on the reopening date :rolleyes:

waterbaba

I heard that they thought they had fixed it, but after testing, it wasn't actually fixed. So now they need to decide if they're going to treat the current tiles again, or if they're going to lay new ones. The girl told me that they're "hopefully" going to have made this decision by the end of next week and so they'll have a better idea of a time-line by then.

Seriously considering stopping my direct debit payments now and telling them I'll resume them 6 weeks after the pool has re-opened (that's how long it's been closed). I need those direct debit payments so that I can pay for swimming sessions at another pool!! I don't care about time being added onto the end of my membership!

Starting to get really fed-up now. This is the only public pool in the whole of the city!! Yes, Carlow and New Ross pools are great, but their public times are restricted, and anyway, I don't want to have to drive for 35-60 minutes (and then fork out for the swim) when the watershed is about a 3 minute drive from my house on my way to work!! (or I could walk there in 10-15 minutes!!) And I'm already paying for it!!

<rant over - for the moment!>

Fluffybums

Can't believe after all this time they still have not decided a course of action (based on the article on the cover of the Kilkenny People). Are they mad to be considering recoating the tiles as a temporary measure - surely this is long term more time consuming and more expensive, especially as it took so long for the management to realise how trecherous the tiles were.
I'd heard a rumour that a pregnant woman fell and hurt her shoulder and that was the incident that finally made the management shut the pool.:eek:

ztoical

whats happened to the old public pool? any chance of them reopening that for a couple of weeks so I don't have to go swimming in the river.

fabbydabby

You can swim in the River. Court.

At a tenner it's quite steep and always seems to be fully of gaybo kids and their swimming lessons or else mom, dad and "the gang" but it did me until the newpark reopened (today).

Fluffybums

Heard recently that the pool was closed because the insurance company refused to carry on the cover if they did not close following two falls resulting in broken limbs within 24 hours of each other.
Don't try and find out anything from your councillors as they, unbelievably, don't know what is going on.
Out of curiosity, is there anyone from any clubs using the complex having problems with the management?

Patcha

Regarding clubs and dificulties with the Watershed management.I doubt if they have time to give more than the bearest courtesy to clubs , because they are so over their heads in various forms of litigation, its solicitors who are doing the talking now, club secretarys im afraid probably dont get a look in, and to think this was built to be the awnser to all sports clubs needs, i mean it was partly funded by the sports council.I keep thinking of the swimming club, the life savers and the schools they have nothing now.Ill go along with Joe Reidy and open up the old pool ,indefinitely.€9.00 family swim and open untill 9 or 10 on Saturdays and Sundays.Happy days.

Fluffybums

Not surprised they are up to their eyeballs in litigation, to have left the pool open for 6 weeks with the floor in the state it was was negligence - they put money through the tills above the safety of the staff and public. Penny wise and pound foolish.
I would be surprised if any insurance company will insure the pool after this, even when they finally sort the floor out, even if they get the insurance it is going to be seriously expensive. The old pool could be the only answer.