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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BROOM HILL POOL SAGA.

EXTRACTS FROM H.S.E. LETTERS ARE PUBLISHED.

1992.

I called in the Evening Star Newspaper to view the dangerous Broom Hill pool, an article was published. I, and the public as retribution for news publication where harassed away from the pool by management and staff. We had paid good money to use the facilities, this money was not reimbursed.

A female friends child fell over and hurt himself at the new Crown Pools in Ipswich. She is a caring mother and in her estimation her child needed medical treatment, this was refused by staff at the pool, she was told to take the child home and treat him. There was no accident record recorded for this incident. She was not happy, she does not want to be named for fear of I.B.C. retribution.

1993.

The Broom Hill Pool was very dangerous, I called in the H.S.E. Health And Safety Executive Norwich, a remedial order was served on I.B.C. to make the diving boards and the pool safe.

1994.

I called in the H.S.E. Norwich again, the H.S.E. Norwich advised I.B.C. to place side barriers on the diving boards in accordance with H.S.E. recommendations. The work was never carried out by I.B.C. H.S.E. Control was moved from Norwich to Chelmsford. H.S.E Norwich wrote to H.S.E. Chelmsford advising them that further safety work needed attention, addressing.

1995.

The security perimeter fence at the Broom Hill pool was badly damaged, people where getting easy access at night when the weather was hot, there where pertinent local newspaper articles. I requested that H.S.E. Chelmsford attend Broom Hill. H.S.E. Chelmsford did not attend to address the diving board or perimeter fence problem. I contacted H.S.E. Norwich, H.S.E. Norwich made H.S.E. Chelmsford aware of the necessary remedial work that was needed at the Broom Hill Pool. I wrote to H.S.E. Chelmsford on several occasions in later years to get the dangerous diving board safety barrier problem fixed, this action was futile.

1996.

I had sent a barrage of letters pertinent to safety particularly referring to the diving board problem to Ipswich Borough Council, including the leader of I.B.C. Mr. David Ball. I confronted David Ball at his house in May 1996 about the serious safety problem of the Broom Hill Diving boards and the perimeter fence. This violent meeting is chronicled in the Book " The Fiddle ", available for reading on this site. The problem of the diving boards was again brought to the attention of R.N.Parkes, H.S.E. Chelmsford.

1997.

In 1997 / 1998 I wrote to Ipswich Borough Council about the paddling pool in Bourne Park Ipswich, this was dangerous. A raised island in the middle of the paddling pool had been painted over with a slippery sealant, My Grandson fell over in 1996 / 1997 hurting himself, I witnessed other children falling over, one child hit his head very hard on the concrete and was seriously distressed.

I wrote to the H.S.E. Chelmsford in June 1998, they sent an Inspector, before the Inspector arrived the slippery sealant had been removed from the paddling pool, the paddling pool was passed as safe for public use. I felt there was collusion between H.S.E. Chelmsford and I.B.C. This collusion was denied by H.S.E. However, I was pleased that the danger problem had been addressed.

1999.

I wrote to the H.S.E. Director General in London, under threat of publication of the letter, the H.S.E. sent a Basingstoke roving hit squad to the Broom Hill and Crown Pools Ipswich. The safety concern points that H.S.E Basingstoke raised and made mandatory at the Broom Hill pool where,

A. Improving the hand rails on three of the diving boards, so that they extend beyond the edge of the pool side.

B. That I.B.C. produce an action plan to keep the pools water clear and the bottom of the pool clean.

C. The area around the water treatment plant was not professional, this needed to be cleaned up.

D. Repair of a broken light fitting.

H.S.E require written notification that the above work has been carried out.

E. At Crown pools Ipswich, a dangerous broken winners rostrum was ordered to be removed from the pool side.

H.S.E. Are arranging a meeting with I.B.C. Senior officials to discuss a number of health and safety matters. Issues of public safety at Broom Hill pool will form part of these discussions.

The author raised the matter of H.S.E. Chelmsford and I.B.C. collusion, this was denied by H.S.E.

2000.

The three metre diving board was closed off mid season, it was dangerous, I wrote to Councillor Goldsmith in Ipswich. Councillor Goldsmith took this matter up with I.B.C.

2001.

When the Broom Hill pool opened, I inspected the pool, I found that the small stair way between the four metre and five metre diving boards in my estimation was unsafe, the risers, this is the vertical distance between the steps was not uniform, the distance between the risers was 7.5 inches, 8 inches, 8 inches, and 10 inches, this was a thirty four per cent difference between worst and best case. This is very dangerous for a child returning from the top board, fifteen feet drop to the ground hitting two platforms on the way down. I did not write to I.B.C. or H.S.E. Chelmsford as this had been futile in the past.

I wrote to H.S.E. Director General highlighting my concern. H.S.E. Basingstoke state they went to Broom Hill, they must have forgotten their tape measure, they passed the diving boards as safe. They stated that the difference in the risers was only half an inch. Note. The top step on the diving boards is illusionary, it is difficult to see that it is unsafe, and that it does not conform to regulations. Note the three metre spring diving board at Broom hill was closed off again, mid season, it was dangerous.

A PICTURE OF THE TOP OF THE TOP SHORT STAIR

WAY ON THE DIVING BOARDS AT BROOM HILL.

A SIDE VIEW OF THE SHORT STAIRWAY.

THE GREATER DISTANCE AT THE TOP IS EASILY SEEN.

In 2001, The perimeter fence at the Broom Hill pool was in such a state to allow easy illegal access day or night for all of the summer, I used the pool in August, the weather was hot the pool was busy, I stayed for an hour, I observed on three occasions that the pool attendants where talking to patrons for more than five minutes, there was no observation of the busy swimming area throughout these times, very poor safety management.

THE PERIMETER FENCE AT BROOM HILL 2001.

The perimeter fence as displayed below is on the north side of the pool near the basket room. Easy access day or night was allowed by this fence as it is displayed for all of this summer. If you look carefully on the far side of the fence there is an old door laying on the grass, this seemed to be there for people to land on after climbing over the fence. The poor upkeep of this fence allowed an easy dangerous entrance for night time users that frequented the pool. To the author, there seems no reason to keep a fence in this condition other than to allow easy access day and night for people to the Broom Hill pool.

History always repeats itself, the account always differs, the perimeter fence at the Broom Hill pool was worse in the hot summer period of 1995. This was my main concern together with the dangerous diving boards when I called to see David Ball the Labour Council leader in 1996 and hit him, as chronicled in the book " The Fiddle, " published on this internet site.

2002.

In January 2002 I wrote to the new M.P. for Ipswich Chris Mole, writing to his predecessor Jamie Cann had been useless. I wrote to Chris Mole because in the past I.B.C. have not responded to my letters of safety concern. I wrote to Chris mole about the dangerous short stair case at Broom Hill, and referred to other unsafe matters, the on going saga, that I was unhappy with. I sent a photograph of the stair case, and the alarming measurements. I also asked Chris Mole to approach I.B.C. about having my 1994 ban from using their premises lifted. I know the reason for my ban was, primarily, that I was publishing safety concerns, and at the time my concern that there could have been a serious cash fiddle at the swimming pools, and other sports facilities controlled by I.B.C. leisure services.

I asked Chris Mole to write to James Hehir the Chief executive of I.B.C. stating that the stair case was dangerous and that it would be good housekeeping to get the problem addressed. James Hehir often spends vast amounts of tax payers money on personal greed campaigns, I stated this, and that to fix this stair case to make it safe for children, the cost would be very small.

I received a letter from Chris Mole stating that my concerns had been passed to the swimming pools department for their assessment as to safety concern. The Broom Hill pool opened for public use 26Th of May 2002.

22.05.2002. I wrote to the Ipswich Crown Court, the Ipswich Police, coroners department, and other agencies about the poor perimeter fence upkeep at the Broom Hill pool that allowed for easy access day and night in the previous summer. This letter is displayed in the letters section on this site. Reference fiddle 0281.txt.

30.05.2002. I went to the Broom Hill pool, the perimeter fence was in a good state of repair. The diving board short stair way had not been repaired / replaced, I was not happy with this.

13.06.2002. The pool diving pit bottom was dirty.

21.06.2002. The diving pit was extremely dirty and dangerous. I measured the short stair case between the fourth and top board, the measurements where the same as last year 7.5 inches, 8 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, at the top. This is dangerous for children.

25.06.2002. I went to see the head architect of an Ipswich team of architects, I showed him pictures of the stair case, and explained the measurements, named the sports facility. The head architect said the stair case was dangerous, a particular danger to children, and gave me a copy of the relevant building regulations. The building regulations for public stair ways confirmed the unsafe I.B.C. practise. The architect was alarmed at what he saw, and asked me to be confidential about disclosure of his name or company for fear of I.B.C. retribution. He stated " Quote ", " I will never get any plans passed ".

27.06.02 I wrote to the H.S.E. Director General, Mr. Timothy Walker, recorded delivery, stating that it was futile to write to Chelmsford.

1. I enclosed the measurements of the stair case, and stated that the stair case was very dangerous.

2. I stated that, the diving pit was very dangerous, very dirty.

11 07 2002. Went to Broom Hill pool. The diving pit was cleaner, just acceptable.

15.07.2001. I received a reply from Geof Baker, H.S.E. Head of operations Basingstoke. An inspector visited the Broom Hill pool last week.

INSPECTORS CONCLUSIONS.

1. In the inspectors opinion, the difference in steps height was marginal, and did not constitute a significant risk.

2. Dirty Diving tank.

A. The inspector considered that more could be done to keep the pool water clean.

B. Management agreed to improve the chlorinating regime, and to repaint the pool floor.

C. The inspector will bring these matters to the attention of I.B.C. who run the pool.

28.07.2002. Went to the broom hill pool at 4pm. Paid entry fee, no receipt issued. There was a security guard. The life guards where rotated, but there was only one lifeguard looking after the swimming area, this was dangerous. This area was well used. On two occasions the rotated lifeguard in this position was chatting to patrons for more than five minutes and not looking at the pool. The top board with the faulty stair case was in use. Artistic diving restrictions where strictly enforced, and patrons where soon removed from the pool if they did not obey the rules. At about 6pm a boy ran the length of the five metre diving board, he slipped at the exit end and landed on his back in the water. He complained that the board was slippery and the board was closed off for public use. I had complained in 2001 to the H.S.E. that the boards none slip material was poor, the H.S.E. passed the board as fit for public use.

Note. It costs very little in respect of running a swimming pool to fit the requisite correct none slip material.

I had e-mailed the Amateur Swimming Association about my concerns for the short stairway in the middle of July.

29.07.02. Noel Winter Amateur Swimming Association diving consultant spoke to me by telephone, Noel apologised for not contacting me earlier, Noel had been on annual leave. We discussed the short stair way at Broom Hill, noel checked the new European diving board regulations, nothing useful was listed.

We discussed this scenario, in that I.B.C. The Chief Executive James Hehir, had been aware that it would be good housekeeping to have addressed this safety issue. Hehir was made aware in good time to have had the necessary work done before the pool opened for the summer season.

We discussed other matters at the pool, and the conclusion was, it was amazing to us, we where baffled as to why these safety problems had not been addressed. We agreed, Note. It costs very little in respect of running a swimming pool to address the stair way problem. The cash amount to address this problem as well as the fitting of correct none slip material on the top diving board is small change.

16 08 02. Went to the Broom Hill pool at 4 P.M. I took a good look at the gate cash accounting machine. This was placed in such a position so the customer could not easily see the screen. This is a computer with a till. I scrutinised the monitor screen as the transaction was going through, I could not ascertain the data transaction. These type of machines are easily fiddled. There was no receipt issued, no dated, no serial number, and cash entry number record for the customer for the cash transaction.

Safety. The lifeguard team was similar as to my previous visit, not professional enough. All the diving boards where in use, supervision for this diving board usage use was good. The top diving board surface had deteriorated, It was slippery, and the centre of the board was showing serious weather wear. I did not see any dangerous incidents while I was there. The dangerous short stair case had not been repaired / replaced.

REGULATIONS.

Swimming pools are governed by the 1974 Health And Safety At Work Act.

REFERENCES.

PAGE 646. 3.-(1) It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

PAGE 646. 4.-(2) It shall be the duty of each person who has, to any extent, control of premises to which this section applies or of the means of access thereto or egress therefrom or of any plant or substance in such premises to take such measures as it is reasonable for a person in his position to take to ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, that the premises, all means of access thereto or egress therefrom available for use by persons using the premises, and any plant or substance in the premises or, as the case may be, provided for use there, is or are safe and without risks to health.

PAGE 649. 7. It shall be the duty of every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work, and,- Etc.

CRONER PUBLICATIONS.

Swimming pools are governed by the 1974 Health And Safety At Work Act.

REFERENCES.

MARCH 1998. PAGE S110. STAIRCASES ETC.

The work place ( Health Safety And Welfare ) Regulations 1992 require all traffic routes including stairs, floors, steps, passages and gangways to be suitably constructed for the intended purpose and properly maintained,- Etc.

MARCH 1998. PAGE W79. WORKING PLATFORMS.

Working platforms should be erected used and maintained in such a condition as to prevent risks from slipping, tripping, - Etc.

THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 1985.

Stairways, ramps and guards

STAIRWAYS AND RAMPS, PAGE 2. RISE AND GOING.

Ref 1.5 In a flight of stairs the steps should all have the same rise, and they should all have the same going.

THE DIVING PIT 07-07-02

This is a picture of the diving pit at the Broom Hill pool, taken 7th August 2002. The state of the diving pit is just not acceptable. This was referred to in the H.S.E. inspectors report this year. None of the dirt / algae should be there.

01 09 02. This was a Sunday, the day that the pool closed early at the end of the summer season, this was a week before the end of the children's summer holiday. The weather and water was temperate for all of this week, This denied many children use of the pool. The lifeguards team where not professional enough, they where at times socialising with patrons and not viewing the water area. The top diving board was closed for public use, this had badly deteriorated, the none slip surface had come away from the wood below, this was through wear. I looked at the diving board from the four metre board walk way, it was in such a state as portrayed in the photograph below. Note. The surface of the material is rippled, broken in the middle, and the top left hand corner has lifted.

Note. There have been over sixty letters to I.B.C. over the last ten years about the problems in this history list above. There has never been a positive response from I.B.C.

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