End of 'lane rage' as swimming pools use wider lanes and speed tests to stay Covid-secure

Early morning swimmers could see the end of “lane rage”, thanks to new coronavirus regulations at pools, the CEO of a major leisure group has said.

Indoor swimming pools must book visitors into designated time slots, widen lanes and limit the number of people in the pool at any one time, under Government guidance that will allow them to open on July 25.

Mark Sesnan, CEO of GLL, a leisure group that operates pools including the London Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park, said it would stop conflict between swimmers who hog the fast lanes in the pool even though they swim slowly.

Swimmers will be "graded by their ability" to make sure they are in the right lane for their swimming speed.

“We’re hoping this is the end of lane rage,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“Because now there will only be a certain number of people in the pool and people will be graded by their ability in much wider lanes with fewer people in them.

“So be patient with us, because it will be slightly harder to get your booking, but once you’ve got it, you’ve got much more space and time to yourself, and we think it will be a much better experience.”

Swimmers visiting pools when they reopen later this month must wear their bathing suits under their clothes to reduce time in the building before they get into the pool.

Visitors will be asked not to stop for a coffee or hang around after swimming, but to follow a one-way system out of the pool and through the showers.

The industry trade body, UK Active, has proposed that each swimmer has three metres of clear water around them, to stop the spread of infection in the pool.

But Mr Sesnan said swimming pools are safe environments from the virus because of water treatment processes.

“Swimming in the water itself is considered to be very Covid secure, because chlorine kills the virus,” he said.

“But obviously we’ve got to make sure people are safe outside the water, and to cut the interaction between people. So the systems that we are operating are going to make swimming even better than it has been before.”

Swimming pools, indoor gyms and community sports will all reopen this month following a briefing by the Culture Secretary on Thursday, where he encouraged the country to get “match fit” to fight the virus.

“The reopening of gyms is the news millions across the country have been waiting for with many people desperate to jump on a spinning bike or dive into a pool,” Oliver Dowden said.

“Our comprehensive guidance will ensure gyms, pools and leisure centres have the support they need to reopen safely for their customers and staff.”