Sarah Barnes from Newton Aycliffe is another parent who needed to complain about the customer service and swimming facilities at Aycliffe Leisure Centre. She sent a strong letter, but months after has not received a reply.
She complains of the apparent lack of traiining and courtesy of staff who ignored concerns over her child affected by taking in water and coughing. The young lifeguard seemed only interested in whether the child was a good swimmer rather than his health!
The mother was upset and is fed up of being treated so ignorantly by the lifeguards who may have lots of life saving qualifications but lack personal people skills, finding them very rude.
Mrs Barnes said in her letter: “I’m not keen on Aycliffe swimming baths as the changing facilities are not clean and the toilet facilities filthy. I actually advised staff the toilets were filthy, full of toilet roll, the sanitary bins were overflowing and there was rubbish on the floors. My husband said the men’s were not much better.
I know the facilities are old but they need cleaning properly. I kept coming as the staff were friendly but I now find the majority of the younger ones are not friendly or welcoming at all!
Sadly I will not be coming back to Aycliffe Leisure Centre, I prefer to make the journey to Durham or Darlington. Our Sunday swimming is family time, and supposed to be a happy and fun time to spend with my children but the lifeguards are miserable and the facilities are filthy.
I am not a person who complains and it takes a lot to upset me but my biggest hate is impoliteness. I think the younger lifeguards need to be sent on a customer service course – a smile costs nothing!”
Mrs Sarah Barnes
From Aycliffe Leisure Centre:
Lesley Tindale, Manager of Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre said “I would like to apologise to Mrs Barnes that she did not receive a reply to her letter. A full investigation was carried out following receipt of the complaint and she should have been informed of this”
