Moray Hydrotherapy Pool to reopen after coronavirus-enforced lockdown
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A LOCAL facility described as a "godsend" is set to reopen in October after the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
It was decided at a board meeting earlier this month that Moray Hydrotherapy Pool, located beside Forres Swimming Pool, will open back up on Monday, October 11.
The pool – which originally opened in 2011 – is used by a range of people, including those with arthritis, MS and cerebral palsy.
Hydrotherapy is also great for those recovering from injuries or accidents – including user Glenda Thompson, who suffered a fall and damaged her back in the 1990s.
She said: "I've been attending the pool once a week since the year after it opened and it's very important to me.
"I've found it a godsend and I know other people who use the facility also speak highly of it.
"My back damage was non-operable so I was advised by my consultant to try hydrotherapy to keep me mobile as long as possible.
"I'm thrilled to bits with it opening up again, it's so helpful – not just to me, but everyone will tell you how much it can help."
The pool also adds to the social life of its users, and is a good place for like-minded people to meet up.
Moray Hydrotherapy Pool chairman Chris Combe said: "I think quite a lot of people come to the pool with fitness groups and find it quite a social thing.
"If you come at the same time each week then you will see the same faces, so there is that social aspect."
Chris, who has been chairman for seven years, admitted that he was slightly nervous about reopening the pool – but the board convinced him with their optimism.
"I was dubious, I have to admit," he added. "But the board were optimistic and said we have to open so people can get back using the facility.
"We don't quite know how many people will come, because it is mostly elderly people who use the pool and that's the group that hasn't come back out in big numbers.
"But we put the reopening announcement on Facebook and had a lot of people saying they are dying to get back, so that's been pretty positive."
Roughly between 100 and 150 people use the pool on a weekly basis.
Those who attend after the reopening will have to wear a mask when entering the building. Sanitisers and cleaning wipes will be available in the changing areas.
There are set to be small timetable and pricing changes which will be announced in due course.
Booking will be required for track and trace purposes, with the pool hoping to join the online booking system currently used by the neighbouring swimming pool.
For more information, visit www.morayhydrotherapypool.co.uk.
