Health and safety strike again

[Gob]

I mean, FMP!!! Give me a fucking break here..

A father-of-two was left stunned after he was told he wasn’t allowed to take his two children swimming in a local pool – because of health and safety rules.

Dave Large was turned away from the swimming baths because of a ban on parents taking more than one young child in at a time.

He has accused the management of Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre of discriminating against single parents who want to teach their children to swim.

Stunned: Dave Large was told he could not take Spencer and Millie swimming because of a ban on parents taking more than one child in at a time

The 35 year-old decided to take his seven-year-old son Spencer and four-year-old daughter Millie for a dip on Bank Holiday Monday.

But when he tried to pay at reception he was told that he couldn't come in with both his children.

A receptionist at the Leisure Centre told Mr Large that two children aged between five and seven can swim with only one adult but that under-fives need one adult each.

As a result he was forced to drive Spencer and Millie to the nearby pool at Bedworth Leisure Centre, in Coventry, where the manager gave him free admission as a goodwill gesture after hearing what had happened.

Mr Large, a cabinet maker from Coventry, said: 'It's just stupid. Not everyone can afford to pay for their kids to have lessons if they are a single parent.

'The policy doesn't apply to other swimming baths around here. It's health and safety gone mad.

'I think it's just about the revenue.

'The swimming pool allows children to swim for free, but charges each adult an admission fee.

'Kids go in for free so if you have to take more adults they are earning more door revenue.

'I just think it is so the managers can kick back and not worry about anything.

'There are a lot of single parents out there who would love to take their children swimming but they can't because of this policy.

'Kids are sitting in front of the TV watching video games and this should be an opportunity for mums and dads to get their children out to take advantage of the free swimming.'

Coventry Sports Trust, which runs the leisure centre, said it was following national guidelines.

A spokeswoman said: 'We have these procedures in place to protect customers and to help prevent accidents happening.

'The sheer volume of swimmers alone is enough to justify this course of action.

'We appreciate that this may accuse inconvenience for some customers but the majority are happy to accept the policy.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0qCrpXDMQ

[Scooter]

Clearly this isn't any sort of a "health and safety" requirement as other nearby pools do not impose it. It is a way for this pool to increase its revenue, as additional paying adults must accompany each child who gets in for free.

[The Hen]

I agree with Scooter.

Though there does come a point where one adult can not reasonably consider they can keep their eyes on their charges when you get into numbers like 4, 5 or 6 kiddie-winks per adult if they are under a certain age.

However, we recently had a drowning in an indoor swimming centre which had 4 life guards on duty and the mother had taken her teenager daughter and 2 year old son with her.

The story goes that the teenager was placed in charge of her brother and was not watching him appropriately at the time.

[Gob]

You know, I love our legal eagle brains here.

Thanks Scoot, perceptive as ever..