Pool managers criticised over temporary closure

The leisure pool and changing village at Spectrum Guildford, Surrey, will close between 27 November and 25 December

A trust which runs a leisure centre in Surrey has been criticised over plans to shut a swimming pool for a month.

The leisure pool at Spectrum Guildford - which attracts 300,000 swimmers each year - will shut for maintenance on Monday.

Managers Freedom Leisure said the period was chosen due to it being the quietest time of the year.

Dawn Bennett, councillor for Clandon & Horsley, criticised the communication from the trust and timing of the closure during the Christmas holidays.

Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, one resident described the temporary closure as a "disadvantage" for families.

Work to the site includes pool maintenance as well as improvements to the flooring, ceiling, shower and toilets.

'A raging success'

Ms Bennett, who is a regular swimmer at the Spectrum, criticised the "lack of information" from Freedom Leisure.

She said: "Being a local councillor, it would have been great to have had information beforehand so that we would be able to let people know when residents were asking us what was going on."

She described the centre as the council's "jewel in the crown", but agreed it needed an update.

"It is a raging success. People come from all around to the Spectrum and it would have been good to have had some notice," she added.

Geoff Lawrence, from Freedom Leisure, said the trust was "happy" with its communication

In a statement shared to its website, Freedom Leisure said it was committed to "improving lives through leisure and reinvesting in our facilities for the benefit of our members".

Geoff Lawrence, head of marketing, said the centre sees a "significant drop-off" in visitors of about 70% in the run up to Christmas.

He added extra sessions are being rolled out in the remaining open pools, which includes the teaching pool, competition pool and dive pool.