GP critical of centre hygiene (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

GP critical of centre hygiene

Retired GP Christopher Gornall claims there is a litter and hygiene problem at Malmesbury Leisure Centre.

Dr Gornall, from Stubbs Lane in Kington St Michael, says he regularly sees overflowing litterbins inside and outside the building several times a week.

The retired 73-year-old, who used to work at the New Road Practice in Chippenham, likes to use the leisure centre's pool for a morning swim but is fed-up with seeing bins full of rubbish.

He said: "The bins are not emptied enough. Even the bins in the changing rooms are not emptied enough. It gives such a bad impression. I would be embarrassed for a foreigner to see the leisure centre."

Despite informing the leisure centre manager about the problem, Dr Gornall says nothing has been done.

Andy Donald, operations manager at Malmesbury Leisure Centre, denied that bins were being left to overflow.

Mr Donald said: "We do empty the bins at least once a day inside and outside. We have a full cleaning regime in place and each member of staff is given a task. Our changing rooms are checked frequently, at least every hour."

Mr Donald added that cleaning services were not contracted out to any organisation and staff treated the issue of hygiene very seriously.

He added that the leisure centre is often used by schoolchildren who deposit rubbish in the bins.

Mr Donald also assured the public that the swimming pool met all hygiene standards.

He said: "Every month we send pool water to be checked and every month the water is clean."