Glass shards discovered at Cascades Leisure Centre swimming pool in Thong Lane, Gravesend
12:22, 08 May 2019
updated: 12:37, 08 May 2019
A mum was left “fuming” after her family’s day was ruined when they stepped on glass shards at a popular swimming pool.
The pool, at Cascades Leisure Centre, in Thong Lane, Gravesend, was forced to close over the Bank Holiday weekend when the fragments were discovered.
It comes after it shut on Friday May 3 at 1pm when a light cover was broken and parts of the safety glass were found in the pool.
Caroline Murless took her children to the pool on Sunday, but left early after standing on some of the safety glass.
She said: "We decided to take the kids to Cascades on Sunday for a swim, whilst in the pool a young guy came over and told me to be careful as there was glass in the pool and showed me a small handful of pieces that he had found.
"I saw him speak to the lifeguard about it who just took the glass from him and apologised. A short while later James came down the flume trod on something sharp, he informed the lifeguard who asked if he was okay and then again just apologised and said that he would let a manager know.
"I was then waiting for James to come down the flume with one of the kids when I trod on something sharp, I picked it off of the bottom of the pool and it was glass, I then trod on another two pieces. I immediately took the kids out of the pool and went to speak to the manager."
Head of operations at Gravesham Community Leisure Ltd, Wayne Pedrick, said: “The pool was re-opened on Sunday at 11am. During the day, several fragments were found and reported to staff.
"Further clearing works were implemented during Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday with a further inspection of the area being carried out before opening at 10am on Monday May 6.
"No further fragments of the safety glass were found prior to opening and during the very busy Monday pool opening times.
"There were reports of three minor cuts over the weekend period which we cannot determine were due to the fragments in the pool.
"The safety of our customers is paramount to us at Cascades Leisure Centre.”
