Leisure Centre Users Survey
Users of Harpenden Swimming Pool and Sports Centre are being asked – have the services improved?
Changes have been made over the past five months after a survey revealed disappointing levels of satisfaction, particularly with cleanliness and customer service.
Now St Albans City and District Council wants to hear whether the changes have been successful and raised standards.
Users can give their views in a short questionnaire that will take only five minutes to complete.
The survey will be available at the centre and it can also be filled in online with the consultation closing on midnight on Friday 25 September. Members of the centre will be emailed the form.
There are questions about how often you use the facilities and how satisfied you are with the mix of activities and equipment available.
Changes have included the appointment of a new General Manager to oversee both the pool and sports centre.
More regular cleaning has been introduced with daily checks now being made on the work.
Centre staff have also undergone intensive customer service training sessions.
The pool’s health suite has been given a £50,000 upgrade and rebranded as the Live Well Spa.
Its reception area has been refurbished with new flooring and décor as well as the introduction of hot drinks and snack machines.
The Council’s Local Services Scrutiny Committee set up the Leisure Facilities Task and Finish Group group to review the pool and centre last year.
A customer satisfaction survey in February this year identified areas where users felt significant improvements were needed.
The group reported its initial findings to a meeting of the Committee in April 2 and the changes were then introduced.
Now they are now looking to assess their impact and to determine whether the initiative has been a success.
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the Leisure Facilities Task and Finish Group for St Albans City and District Council, said: “The responses to our survey at the start of this year showed a disturbingly high level of dissatisfaction.
“We want to know how they feel about the changes and if it has improved their experience of the pool and sports centre.
“These are important community assets for Harpenden and we have to ensure they are well managed. Please take the time to complete the survey and let us know your views.”
Harpenden Swimming Pool and Sports Centre is run on behalf of the Council by leisure operators 1Life.
The pool also has a learner pool, spa pool, sauna and steam room while the sports centre has a gym and sports hall.
To complete the survey online go to https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/consultations
Information about the pool and sports centre, Rothamstead Park, Leyton Road, can be found on: http://www.1life.co.uk/st-albans-city-district-council/harpenden-swimming-pool/home/
The report to the April meeting of the Committee can be viewed in full here: http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s50016254/Report%20of%20the%20Leisure%20Facilities%20TF%20Group%20V3%20FINAL.pdf
Councillor contact:
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the the Leisure Facilities Task and Finish Group of the Local Services Scrutiny Committee of St Albans City & District Council. Tel: 07761-232064 Email: anthonyrowlands@hotmail.com
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City & District Council
Tel: 01727 296130
E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk
Notes:
The Local Services Scrutiny Committee scrutinises public services provided to residents in St Albans District and issues about the area.