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The Burgess Hill Uncovered Special Report - Triangle Leisure Centre

18th February 2006

Now, it wasn't so long ago that the Triangle Leisure centre in Burgess Hill was dominating the front pages of the local newspapers with stories about their poor cleaning standards. One story that sticks in the mind was about a gentleman who went swimming at the centre regularly. He would use the same cubicle on every visit, and was tracking the lifespan of a piece of chewing gum that was stuck to the wall of the cubicle, he even took the trouble to announce when it had reached its first birthday!

Mid Sussex District Council drafted in a contract cleaning company for a while to tackle the problems and the newspapers left the centre alone.

Had the Triangle turned the corner with new standards of cleanliness to match the great facilities? Well, from the correspondence that Burgess Hill Uncovered have received from users of the leisure centre in recent weeks, this does not seem to be the case.

The following are unedited extracts from emails sent to Burgess Hill Uncovered from members of the public who wished for us to highlight the on-going problems at the Triangle leisure centre.

Its generally very poorly maintained, filthy dirty, smelly and has an army of incompetent staff working there! I've been complaining to the senior management at the Mid Sussex Council for over a year, and also included Nicholas Soames in my complaints, had meetings with the Centre Manager but its still filthy!

A few weeks back I witnessed something brown and oval in the showers...yes... you've guessed it! they still didnt close off the area or manage to find any disinfectant!

Another horrific story I heard yesterday was that someone stepped on a soiled sanitary towel in the ladies loos, and when they reported it, the Reception staff said there was no one available to deal with it at the time, could they fill in a complaint form!!!

Yesterday My daughter had her swimming lesson, as she does every Monday. I have stopped going swimming at the Triangle because it is so dirty. Yesterday however I decided to go swimming with her after her lesson, as she particularly wanted me to go. Today I have earache and a sore throat. This happens each time I swim in that pool. Other pools do not affect my health.

I bought a season ticket last year that I have not been able to use due to the poor cleanliness of the pool. It is so convenient to print on the ticket no refunds. And yet The Triangle can get away with such poor hygiene.

What upsets me so much is that the Triangle was so beautiful when it first opened. What a great day, visited by the queen, so exciting after the pool facilities that we had previously. And yet 7 years later it is a disgrace. Yet another example of wastage AND INCOMPETENCE.

The toilets last night were disgusting - again. There was faeces on the floor of the cubicles of the toilets and a lady was actually rinsing out her sons soiled trunks in the sink. No soap or disinfectant in sight. The smell was so strong it is retching.

I want action to this problem and visible improvement for my family and those of others families who also deserve better.

Pretty damaging comments I'm sure you'll agree!

Now, if you are a user of the Triangle and would like to send us your opinions on the cleanliness at the leisure centre, then email - webmaster@burgesshilluncovered.co.uk

We wish to be fair regarding this situation, and would welcome contact from anyone at Mid Sussex District Council who may wish to respond, we know you read the website!