Croeso! Welcome!
Timetables: Swimming Pool Climbing Wall
Harlech & Ardudwy Leisure is still closed due to Covid-19 , however please see below for an update on what has and is going on whilst shut.
We felt it important to give the community of Ardudwy an update on what has been going on at the Leisure Centre since we had to close back in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since April all our staff have been put on the government furlough scheme except for our maintenance employee (Karl Nash). Together with some of the volunteer board members he has been making sure that the centre is maintained and that regular safety checks are being carried out. Karl has also been doing a significant amount of redecorating in the centre and various repairs.
A decision was also made in early May to drain the pool after it became clear that the lockdown would be a lot longer than originally thought. We are also pleased to announce that we received planning permission from Snowdonia National Park Authority for the replacement of the pool area windows and a site visit has already been carried out by the contractors undertaking the job. The plan is that the installation of the windows will begin late summer.
Emptying the pool saves considerable monthly running costs and also makes the windows installation much easier. It also allows us to take the opportunity to re-grout the deep end of the pool basin, clean up the walkway around the pool, replace all damaged ceiling tiles with new ones and change the existing pool lights to LED. All the above are being funded through the Landfill Disposals Tax Community Scheme Grant from the Welsh Government and managed by the WCVA.
In addition, as part of efficiency savings made in the last financial year, work will also be undertaken to improve the pool plant machinery and replace old sand filtration system with glass beads. We have also during this lockdown been able to have a comprehensive electrical survey done. With the pool being drained it has the added benefit that we are saving significantly on our LPG and electricity cost and we hope this saving will allows us to replace the old worn out carpet in the reception area with hard wearing vinyl tiles which will also make it easier to maintain cleanliness. So although sadly the centre had to close back in March the board is taking this opportunity to make these changes when it can; and making the most out of a bad situation.
Our ongoing revenue cost(s) are being met by the by the £25,000 business relief grant we received and most of the staff wages covered by the furlough scheme. We are also extremely grateful for the continued support of the six Community Councils of the Ardudwy area. We are in constant communications with our staff and we hope over the next few months to start a slow phased return to work whilst still using the furlough scheme.
As for centre reopening – IT WILL RE-OPEN, but it is difficult to be specific at the present moment in time especially with the lifting of restrictions coming in phases but also different for different parts of the UK. We can safely say that the pool will not be opening until 1st October at the earliest. As for the Cafe and Climbing Wall again we have no set date yet and will be both dependent on what the government guidance and restrictions will be but also with the work we are currently having done. It is possible we will be able to open some parts of the centre before others on a rotation basis.
We hope that people will find the above information useful and be buoyed by the fact that not only will we open again but it will also be a more efficient and brighter place to visit.
From the HAL Board of Volunteers.
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Welcome to Harlech & Arudwy a leisure center which provides an all weather attraction for all the family. The center is located immediately below the imposing Harlech Castle which is a World Heritage Site. The center offers a 25 meter swimming pool, an indoor climbing wall and a Cafe with great views of the Castle.
Harlech & Ardudwy is a social enterprise which is managed by a Volunteer Board of Directors made up of local people from the community and supported by a group of volunteers who work hard to maintain the center both for the local community and visitors to the area.
