A REFURBISHED accessible changing room — part of an ongoing improvement project at the Waterside Pool in Ryde — has proved a hit with regular visitor and member of the Isle Access charity, Tracy Jones.

Tracy welcomed improvements including a widened access to the shower area, hand rails, automatic lighting and emergency pull cords, plus an appropriately placed mirror, paper towel holders and other aids.

Tracy, who donated a special chair for use in the shower, said: “These improvements place Waterside Pool among the best facilities seen on the Island."

Pool manager, Todd Miller, and Keith Gentleman, chairman of Waterside Community Trust — the charity that manages the pool — are both delighted with the feedback from Tracy and other customers who have used the new facilities.

Keith said: “It was very old fashioned before and not fit for purpose. It has been our ambition to improve this space for some time and with a grant from Island Roads, a gift of money from the Friends of the Waterside Pool and some of our own funds we have achieved our goal to be as inclusive as possible.

“The pool already has easy access steps into the water and a poolside hoist to accommodate any swimmer, indeed the only item outstanding on our accessibility ‘to do’ list, is to replace the doors leading from reception to poolside with fully automated ones.

“This future project will require more fundraising, as we continue in our efforts to keep our much-loved pool open, inclusive and relevant to our community.”

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