Celebrations as Abingdon pool reopens after repairs (From Herald Series)

Celebrations as Abingdon pool reopens after repairs

2:24pm Monday 21st December 2009

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SWIMMERS have made a splash in Abingdon for the first time in more than a month.

Celebrations were held at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, in Audlett Drive, on Saturday to mark the reopening of its main swimming pool.

The pool was closed to the public on November 3 after a large section of plastic pipe fractured without warning.

Engineers replaced long sections of piping beneath the pool’s tank before staff began work to refill it with more than more than 350,000 litres of water.

Anna Loughlin, from School Lane, Milton, said: “We’re regular users of the centre and it was great to get back into the water.

“We were really disappointed when it closed, particularly as the children use it for their swimming lessons.

“We really enjoyed having a good splash around, although the temperature was a little bit down so we had to keep moving to stay warm.”

Mrs Loughlin’s daughter, Heidi, eight, a pupil at St Michael’s Primary School in Steventon, said: “It was good to be back, because we hadn’t been to the Abingdon pool in ages.

“Instead we’ve have to go to use the one in Didcot, but I prefer the Abingdon centre.”

Customers who queued up before the centre opened at 6.30am were treated to a breakfast of croissants and orange juice by staff. Extra fitness sessions were also laid on and a Christmas party for children was held in the afternoon.

Duty manager Ben Lawson said: “It was good to see so many people here and eager for a swim.

“A lot of work went into getting it back up and running. Because of the weather, the temperature was slightly cooler, but many people said they preferred it.

“The feedback has been really positive and we’re just glad to see people back in the pool.”

All other areas of the centre were open while the repairs took place.

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