Anybody been in it yet and used the facilities?

Heard only negative reports so far - i do hope they can justify the cost (200 million) considering that the old pool has now gone and that the town doesnt have an arts centre.

Thoughts?

negative reports in what way? my girl friend has just joined but hasnt been yet but said everything looks good and they have all spents thousands on all the top of the range machines. i know a gym is all about going in and doing hard work and then getting out of there but all the cardio machines have screens on them which let you go on the internet and youtube and insert your own ipod etc which id imagine would be good for alot of people!

Someone complained to me about it they said 'people can see you swim when they walk in'

My reply 'hmm people used to watch you swim from the outside in the old baths be thank full that you wont have a old guy flashing through a big window which what happend once when i was in'

Mainly regarding the pool and by swimmers who used to use the old pool. Apparently the pool is too shallow and not big enough if you actually want to swim properly - ie do lengths.

There is also a viewing gallery so that parents can watch their children swim but only half the pool is visable from the gallery resulting in parents using the foyer to check on their kids.


Sections of the pool are often reserved for kids who are having swimming lessons which again reduces the size for people that want to swim. This did used to happen in the old pool when it was used by Wigan Warriors or Wigan Wasps but it was big enough to allow people to swim properly.

Lockers you can open once so people are having to use the showers whilst leaving their lockers open.

The time-table for use of the pool is apparently more in favour of those who don't work during the day - thats the main opportunity for people to use it without kids messing about jumping in the pool.

With regards to the gym facilities - did Wigan really need another gym?

Pretty much what dany1979 said, plus for the cost (for me and the other half) we could use the DW gym with a huge gym area and pool that is usually quiet when we retired folk can go in during the working day, and convenient changing facilities. Plus a caff, of course.

I went twice last week and going again later. The gym facilities are the same as Robin Park. The pool often gets split in half with half for casual swimmers and half for lane swimming or private classes etc. The 3 pools is misleading. Pool 1 and 2 is the main pool split in half. The pool is a bit narrower than the old one and half the length. There is a multisex changing villagr and the pool is overlooked by all 4 sides from either reception, gym, viewing area and corridors to studios for classes. I like it but even after the forst day of being open it looked a bit grubby. I put that down to them being very busy though. I like it. Only downside is no free parking.

Oh... Regarding thr depth... It is 2metres at the deepest end and about a metre in the shallow end. The floor moves though so they are able to change the depth.

Parking is very poor. I see the council are increasing parking availability just in front of the gas thingimibobs. How the heck did WMBC raise the money to build this though????

They didnt.
Timetable sucks.
No Parking.
Marketed as better than it actually is (2 pools advertised, but actually only 1).

Another brain fart by the council i'm afraid. "Wigan should get fit", but if you work, you should pay top price or miss out.

Being a bit sceptical, wonder if any workers for the council get special rates, or time off during working hours so they can stay fit enough to spend our council tax.

I've found this with all swimming pools in the Wigan borough. For some reason the useless Wigan Leisure trust think only those who don't work should have access to swimming pools; especially infuriating as they appear to be one of the only government bodies who think this (other council areas have much better opening times).

Being a swimmer I have always hated the new development. I loved the old pool and they have got rid of the 50m pool which not many small towns have.

What is it with modern pools being so shallow. A feller used to sit at depth of 16ft in the old pool for minutes on end and then would do widths across the bottom. He must have had some good lungs thinking about it

I think the council need to do some PR work on this part as for some reason most people seem to think its all money direct from the council, and they couldnt be more wrong.

nah, big assed loan that we'll have to pay back

Went again tonight for 'Gym members lane swimming'. There were just TWO lanes available in the whole pool for the gym members swimming. All the rest were for the wasps. Already a shower broken too and several lockers. There were muddy footprints throughout the changing village too, and dirty cubicles with puddles and talc all over the place. Obviously gets cleaned regularly... SOOOOO annoying with everybody standing in reception to watch too... At least with the old pool, people looking in from the street were some distance away. These are about two metres away from the pool at pool level.

"How the heck did WMBC raise the money to build this though????"
By borrowing private money through the PFI initiative, this was also used to build all the new "super schools" in simple terms, a mortgage that the ratepayers will be paying off for the next 30years.
These projects end up costing three times as much as their true cost.

Sorry to be so boring

Just for the record the Wasps as a swimming club don't exist any more. They were replaced a few years ago by Wigan BEST (Borough Elite Swim Team). Actually the people training are in the Wigan swim scheme of which some are registered with Wigan BEST for competitive swimming.

No Parking? Do what I've done for years in Wigan town centre, park up at the bottom end of Scholes and walk 500 yards to the baths.

Tight as cramp

Fookin' damn right. Xmas shopping, two foot of snow, cowder than a witches tit but I'd still rather walk from Scholes precinct to save ten bob.

Its tragic that despite this huge investment in Wigan town centre, many people who are just passing through will probably notice the abandoned Police station that stands opposite the Life Centre more than anything else.

For 217m surely it was possible to refurbish the old swimming pool as well as build a much needed arts centre too?

Or the disgusting sight that is the old town hall. That area is in desperate need of a facelift.