Lack of chlorine may shut pools in heatwave
Swimmers could be denied the chance to cool off as worsening chemical supply issues start to bite
‘The horrific situation in Ukraine has wrought havoc on a chemical supply chain already disrupted by Covid, Brexit and driver shortages’
OUTDOOR pools and lidos could be forced to close during the approaching heatwave and throughout the summer because of a national chlorine shortage.
Several swimming venues have already been forced to suspend season ticket sales and the historic lido in Cheltenham, along with Portishead Lido, near Bristol, have said they cannot guarantee being able to remain open. Others have warned they could have to shut within weeks.
The shortage is being blamed on cuts in production in China, Brexit and the war in Ukraine. The news came as Britain continued to bask in temperatures of 27C (80F) and rising.
A spokesman for the Grade II Listed Sandford Parks outdoor pool, in Cheltenham, apologised to patrons but said: “Until we can guarantee the ability to purchase chlorine at our normal levels it would be wrong to continue selling season tickets.”
Portishead Lido told its customers: “We are conserving the chlorine we have to make it last as long as possible but, due to the uncertainty of the situation, we have reluctantly made the decision to halt the sale of season tickets.”
Historic Pools, which represents outdoor pools and lidos, warned the situation was reaching critical levels.
Joe Stanhope, a trustee at Historic Pools and operations director for Jubilee Park Lido in central Lincolnshire, said: “Pools will only have a couple of weeks supply of chlorine at best and everyone is struggling to obtain more. If they can’t get chlorine they will have to close.”
Several indoor pools have already shut including Saxon Pool in Biggleswade, Beds, and the pool at Tamhouse worth’s Snowdome. Leisure World in Colchester is shutting its fitness and teaching pools on certain days.
The Runnymede Leisure Centre in Benfleet closed its pool over one weekend after running out of Melclorite, a type of chlorine, and the University of East Anglia closed its pool for five days, with managers citing “severely depleted” levels of chlorine gas.
The Chemical Business Association said: “The horrific situation in Ukraine has wrought further havoc on an already heavily disrupted chemical supply chain caused by factors such as Covid, Brexit or driver shortages.”
Meanwhile, swimmers in Dorset have also been robbed of the chance of bathing at a favourite beauty spot after the beach at Lyme Regis was shut this week for dredging works.
Local businesses that rely on tourists have described the timing as ridiculous.
Audrey Bellacott, of The Beach Cafe, said: “It’s affecting every business along the sea front. I don’t know why they have chosen to do it in the middle of June.
“People aren’t bringing their kids because there’s nowhere for them to play. It’s absolutely ridiculous, what the council were thinking about god only knows.”
Caz Retter, 39, a manager at the Cobb Arms pub, added: “The timing is poor – it is the hottest week of the year and we can’t even get on our beach.”
Dredging work is carried out at Lyme Regis every year to remove excess silt and ensure the navigable channels in the harbour are maintained. The work is usually carried out in spring but was delayed several times this year.
Dorset council said there were problems in obtaining licences for the work which was then postponed to avoid interrupting the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and the half-term break.