Big bill to keep out thieves (From Swindon Advertiser)

Big bill to keep out thieves

4:03pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

EXTREME measures to protect a Swindon charity from thieves are in place.

Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool, which caters for users with disabilities ranging from brain damage to cerebral palsy, has spent £100,000 beefing up its security over the last 10 years.

Following a recent attack in which thieves stripped lead off the charity's roof, a bank of 10 CCTV cameras, an 8ft high perimeter fence and movement-activated floodlights have been set up.

Two 30ft masts, with infrared cameras, will be put up this weekend at opposite ends of the pool's grounds.

The figure also includes the cost of repairs to the building, increased insurance premiums and lost revenue, because of the forced pool closures.

Paul Charlwood, the pool manager, said: "The cost has been enormous.

"It is like the drip, drip, drip of a tap. You don't think it's very much, but before you know it, the bucket is full.

"When we actually sat down and added up the bills, we were quite horrified at the amount it has cost us.

"It is all because of the avarice and greed of a few people.

"We want them to know that what they are doing is robbing children and disabled people of the chance to use the pool."

Mr Charlwood said that one of the worst incidents he could remember was when vandals smashed the building's windows, filling the pool with broken glass.

He said: "We had to drain the whole pool and bring in specialists to check that it was entirely clear of glass before we could let anybody use it.

"Then we had to heat tap water to 35C to refill the pool. That cost us the equivalent of an average person's annual gas bill in just one day."

Mr Charlwood said that the roof is now covered in a non-lead product that has no commercial value.

He said: "It seems lead is the driving force behind the problems we have been suffering from recently.

"We have our fingers crossed now that the new product will discourage any further thefts.

"All we want to do is to be able to provide for our users. That is our sole aim in life."

• Print
• Email
• Share