Clampdown promised against swimmers "cheating the system"

Monday 05 March 2018

Beau Sejour says a number of people are going swimming in the leisure centre's pools without paying first.

Staff have noticed that more people are using the pools than have paid to do so, and some people are even putting shop receipts into the box for tickets rather than handing over stubs from the Beau Sejour ticket desk itself.

While staff say they don't know how many people are doing this, the centre is aiming to "discourage customers from doing so at this point in time" by asking those swimmers who have paid to start wearing a wrist band in lieu of a ticket.

Although it doesn't impact on the running costs of the pool, which costs the same to open whether one or 100 people are swimming, allowing people to swim for free while others pay, does have the potential to impact on Beau Sejour's overall income generation.

The leisure centre is the only publicly owned facility in Guernsey offering sports halls, swimming pools and a theatre. In the past a shortfall in its running costs have been covered by States funds.

In 2015 the centre's operating deficit was -£672k. It currently costs up to £5.10 for a session of swimming depending on age and whether the individual is a member.

Beau Séjour told Express that staff want to trust customers to pay for the facilities and services they are using:

"Some people have said we could ask the lifeguards to check tickets - but their primary role, as we’re sure customers are aware, is to watch the pool to ensure everyone remains safe. Therefore they are unable to take their attention off the pool.

"We could look at introducing a barrier, or a turnstile for which you have to present a ticket or membership card - but this would be expensive and add another barrier to customer enjoyment. We would really like to trust our customers that they are paying what they are coming in for."

Some swimmers have been caught out already and have had to return to reception to pay for a ticket to be able to swim in the publicly funded pools. 

From March 7 all swimmers will be asked to wear a temporary wrist band to prove they have paid.