Swimming pool urges swimmers not to use public showers during the cost-of living crisis.

  • Jesmond Gym and Jesmond Pool in Newcastle studied home showering habits of the swimmers
  • This pool is a charity and will see its energy bills rise by 75%
  • Phil Drape, Operations Manager said that they are exploring all options to reduce costs

Newcastle’s pool asked its swimmers if they thought it would be worth showering at home in order to cut costs on rising energy prices.

Jesmond Pool and Gym functions as a charity and is managed by Jesmond Community Leisure.

Management of the pool stated that they are looking into all options to help save money in this cost-of-living crisis. The company’s energy costs will rise 75%.

The facility was also asked customers to fill out a survey to see if they’d prefer to use the bathroom at home over the pool, as it looks for ways to reduce its costs.

Jesmond Pool and Gym operations manager Phil Drape (pictured above) said they were looking at "all options" to reduce energy bills, including asking people to shower at home. He said "the last thing we would want" is for customers to have to pay for soaring costs

Phil Drape, Jesmond Pool and Gym’s operations manager (pictured above), said that they are looking into ‘all possible options’ for reducing energy costs. He also suggested asking customers to use their showers at home. According to Drape, customers shouldn’t have to bear the high costs of energy.

According to the social enterprise, “We have more than 1,000 swimmers using our showers every week. This uses considerable amounts of energy and water.

“Would it be worth your while to shower at home rather than in the pool?”

Phil Drape, Operations Manager at the charity, stated that they do not wish to increase costs for clients who use it for their well-being and fitness.

He explained that the survey had been sent to customers in preparation of budgeting next year for our end-of-energy contract.

Jesmond Pool in Newcastle surveyed their customers, asking whether they would be prepared to shower at home in order to help the organisation save on water and electricity costs

Jesmond Pool, Newcastle, surveyed its customers to find out if they are willing to take a shower at home to save water.

“As it stands now, we pay 12p/kWh electricity. 

“The government cap on electricity used by businesses over the next six-months will be reviewed after three month. It is currently 21p/kWh. That’s a 75% increase.

“As a charity that operates only on a one-site basis and receives no funding from outside sources, we aim to offer swimming and other leisure activities to our community.

We would never want to see our customers pay more for leisure activities that they use to improve their health and well-being.

“There are many ways to save energy. We’re looking into solar panels, decreasing showering times, and other options.

Jargon buster 

Price guarantee for energy: Households can pay maximum energy company charges per unit, gas and electricity. This is frozen for 2 years.

Cost of wholesale energyThis is the price that suppliers pay for electricity to be sold to consumers.

Currently, membership to the gym costs £22.99, £31 for swimming and £37 for gym and swim, while pay as you go options are £6 per gym session or £5 per swim.

Jesmond Pool is just one of the many businesses and households across the country that are struggling with increasing energy costs due to the war in Ukraine.

Premier Liz Truss, who announced earlier in the month new measures to combat the issue, included the energy price guaranteed for householders and an ‘equivalent” support for business.

From October 1, the average household energy bill will rise from £1,971 to a frozen £2,500 under the energy price guarantee, around £1,000 less than the new energy price cap due to kick in.

This is nonetheless a 27% increase over the prior price limit and 96% more than last year. 

Businesses and non-domestic energy users, such as charities, were promised discounts on wholesale electricity between October 1 and March 31.

It is anticipated that the supported wholesale price will be 21p/kWh for electricity and 7.5p/kWh for gasoline, which are less than half of this winter’s wholesale prices.

It also includes the elimination of green levies.

However, companies that use a lot of energy like leisure centers and swimming pools will see an increase in their bills.

Ms Truss, however, insists that increasing costs are “a price worth paying” for resisting Vladimir Putin’s aggression. 

Help is available for schools, charities and businesses to pay their bills.

Yesterday, the government announced that bills for charities, schools, and businesses will be reduced by half in winter, which could result in a savings of tens of millions of pounds.

Ministers have announced that prices for electricity and gas will be frozen starting October 1, and remain in place for six months. This is to provide ‘certainty and peace of heart’ throughout winter.

The scheme, which will also benefit hospitals and care homes, is broadly in line with the £2,500 price guarantee offered to households.

Cornwall Insight, a market analyst, estimated the cap will cost the Government £25billion, which is likely to be funded by Government borrowing.

The Business Department suggested a pub fixing its energy costs last month would save around £3,100 per month from the intervention, while a school would save £4,000 per month.

The ‘unprecedented intervention’ was welcomed by business and education leaders, who said that it will provide a lifeline’ for them as they deal with the winter. But opposition MPs claimed that giving a blank check to extremely profitable companies like Amazon was an ‘inefficient use of taxpayers’ funds’.

Prime Minister Liz Truss declared: “I am aware of the enormous pressure that businesses, charities, and public sector organizations are feeling with their energy bills. That is why I am taking immediate action to help them during the winter and protect livelihoods and jobs.

Our new scheme, which we do for consumers, will help keep energy costs down starting in October. It provides certainty and security.

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