The provision of public swimming pools and diving facilities in London

The report sets out the results of a major mapping exercise of public swimming pools across London. It shows that, despite the focus on getting more people swimming as part of the sports participation legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, there are significant gaps in the current provision of public pools, and this situation will not improve in the next few years.

The main findings include that one-third of Londoners live more than 20 minutes walk away from a public swimming pool and this will remain the case in 2012. Moreover, some of these Londoners live in areas with low access to public transport. The report also highlights that no region in London meets the Amateur Swimming Association’s target for public water space and that only 9 of the 33 London Boroughs currently have accessible diving facilities.

These findings seek to inform the Mayor’s forthcoming London Legacy Plan for Sport, helping the Mayor and his Commissioner for Sport to identify and develop appropriate actions to ensure good provision of public swimming and diving facilities for all Londoners.