Welcome to the summer edition of the Club newsletter. With guaranteed sunshine just around the corner it is also the time of year to update all members on a range of topics;
Membership Prices
The annual increase in membership prices will be effective from 1stAugust 2019. On average prices have increased by 4.5%. There is a larger increase in off peak prices than peak to represent the balance in the programme of activities especially with Group Exercise classes.
There is also to be a change in Off Peak timings to 06:30 to 16:00 Monday to Friday with the weekend times remaining the same. This change is to eliminate Off Peak members gaining entry during Peak times into the Club. This change will be implemented from 1st August.
There is to be no change to Guest Fees but please note that the adult fee is £10.00, and the junior fee is £5.00.
Membership Waiting List – This was introduced last August and will remain in place. Whilst new members have joined over the course of the past year, there has only been a net increase of eight additional members since the waiting list was introduced. This position with leavers and joiners is monitored weekly and acted on accordingly.
Group Exercise Classes
The current number of exercise classes now exceeds over 120 classes per week, which is a significant increase from the 50 plus classes a few years ago. Additional classes have been added throughout the years to meet demand. A large proportion of these classes have been added during off peak hours. The search for instructors is ongoing and it is a challenging situation to find suitable staff to teach classes. There is currently a detailed programme review in progress, and any changes in timings and classes will be in the new September timetable which will be published in August.
Class Etiquette & Class Waiting Lists
We have received feedback from participants about incoming class members entering the Studios before the class has finished. This has been raised before and we have seen an improvement. Please can class members curb their keenness and enthusiasm to enter quickly and hold off until the other class has finished. I am sure everyone will appreciate this.
With regards to waiting lists – This is a massive issue for us to oversee with the current cancellation guidelines in place. As you know most classes fill very quickly with long waiting lists. If you place your name on one or more waiting lists but then cannot take up a space, it would be appreciated if you can remove your name from the list. When members cancel after 10pm for an early morning class, Reception is closed. Therefore, if your name is on the list, calls will be made from 06:30 for the 07:00 or 07:30 classes. We do have a late cancellation policy that will be enforced as per the Club’s Terms & Conditions. There is currently no ability for the waiting list to automatically send a text message when a vacancy appears so we are restricted to making calls.
The same applies to squash and tennis courts.
Club App
As you know, class booking times have moved from midnight to 22:00. Court bookings remain at midnight. The App developers are aware that Clubs like ours are looking for a solution.
Outdoor Pool
The pool will be open to members from Saturday 29th June until Sunday 1stSeptember. We are now offering an Early Bird ticket up to Sunday 7th July of £25 per person. After this date the two-month season ticket will be £30 per person. The same terms and conditions apply this year as last. Members can only purchase the one-off season ticket and the price will not be reduced at the halfway point etc. No refunds policy will apply.
Refurbishment Works
There are two essential maintenance projects that will take place during December. The main hall will be closed for a ‘scrub, reseal and remarking’ during the period Friday 13th December – Sunday 22nd December. We had hoped to have this work carried out during the summer period, but it has not been possible to align the work with the mini closure happening Monday 1st July to Saturday 6th July to replace several cracked and broken floor tiles.
The second project is to replace all the indoor poolside floor tiles. This is a major project that will require the closure of the pool from Monday 2nd December through to Friday 27thDecember. We are aware of the inconvenience this will cause, but there is no ideal time to close this facility. Alternative swimming arrangements will be sought but there are no guarantees that other facilities will be available to assist during this period.
Robin Dyer Indoor Cricket, Netball & Tennis Centre
The handover of this facility took place at the end of April. We are currently working through the snagging issues that accompany any new facility. There are several key issues that are still works in progress. This is predominantly a College facility that the Club will be able to use outside of College times. All our cricket block bookings will transfer out of the Main Hall into the new centre freeing up space at the weekends during the winter months. We are working with the College to determine their exact requirements and once finalised we will be able to programme in tennis and further netball bookings. Use of this centre is not included in the membership fees and a charge of £25 per court per hour will be applied to both tennis and netball bookings.
The two additional outside tennis courts will be made available to members as from Monday 1st July at no cost and will be bookable via the App and web site.
Car Parking
The preferred option that was close to being implemented has had to be withdrawn due to financial and planning considerations. The Club has another option that is being worked through, and we aim to have this in place for September if possible. Members are reminded that at peak times the top car park is available to use.
Ellie’s Macmillan Bake Sale
Thank you to everyone who came together and baked, as well as ate cake! The event raised a fantastic sum of £547 for this very worthwhile charity. Ellie went on to complete her 26 mile walk in 10 hours using 63,000 steps in 80 mph wind and rain. In total Ellie and her Dad raised over £1,000 between them. This could not have been done without your help so thank you again.
A Big Birthday
Recently the Club helped Pulok Roy celebrate his 90th birthday earlier this month. We all wish him many more healthy and active years.
Hello & Goodbye
We have several new group exercise instructors that have started covering various classes now so please welcome Sue Berry, Frankie Clapham, Elizabeth Miller, Gareth Pengely and Jo Hensman when you see them in class.
We recently said goodbye to Pat Martin and thank you to all those members who attended her farewells drinks to wish her well in her retirement.
Congratulations to Gabriel Guzman on passing his Les Mills Body Balance instructor qualification. Adding yet another string to his bow!
Members Quiz Night
Saturday 27th July at 19:30 with our resident Quiz Master Mark Smith. Cost for the evening is £6.50 and includes a fish and chip supper, some mind- boggling questions and a take home selfie with Mark himself. Spaces are limited to 50 so get your team together and get booking to be in with a chance of winning a cash prize. All in all, an absolute bargain!! Please book and pay at Reception.
Ian Davis
Commercial Manager
24/06/19