Mum's campaign after Sussex leisure centre charges for babies (From The Argus)
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Mum's campaign after Sussex leisure centre charges for babies
11:30am Saturday 12th May 2012 in News
A campaign has been launched after a leisure centre started charging under ones.
Samantha Murray has nearly 100 signatures for her petition at change.org after being angry to discover a £2.25 charge for her baby at Downs Leisure Centre in Sutton Road, Seaford.
Babies used to get free entry if going to the centre with a sibling, but all infants are now charged a concessionary rate.
Mrs Murray, who has three children, discovered the changes when she took her five-day-old daughter to the centre.
She said: “I was really quite shocked at the price.
“I don't understand why they have done it, especially as they are a not for profit organisation.
“They didn't charge before and that extra money must be going somewhere.”
Mrs Murray said she had been told various reasons for the charge, from covering a recent refurbishment to insurance for the children.
The 25-year-old said a group of mothers held a coffee morning there but were now considering if they could afford to meet each week.
Fred Furner, managing director at Downs Leisure Centre, defended the move, saying the changes made the charging policy fairer for all.
He said: “We just think it is a fair price to pay.
“It is a very fair and competitive policy.
“We offer very good value for adults. We don't charge for adults to enter the Dinos play area.
“Some places do not charge under ones but charge adults.”
Mr Furner said the organisation was not for profit which meant any money made was reinvested in facilities.
This included £40,000 spent in December on the Dinos play area.
He added even if the child was too young to use the play area, it was likely the parents would use facilities such as baby changing and the tables and chairs there.
Mr Furner said he was aware of the petition and always took feedback seriously.
He added: “We always give this lots of thought and feedback is really important to us.”
Comments(21)
mimseycal
says...
11:47am Sat 12 May 12
mimseycal
says...
11:52am Sat 12 May 12
Others who want to do so can find it here:
http://www.change.or
g/petitions/playing-
at-dino-s#
monkeymoo
says...
11:58am Sat 12 May 12
Go to "The Drove" in Newhaven...they have a much bigger indoor and outdoor play area. You can sit and have your coffee / food there. Only £2.00 for over 2yr olds (under that it is free), adults go free.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
12:22pm Sat 12 May 12
pwlr1966
says...
12:58pm Sat 12 May 12
julesisjules
says...
1:22pm Sat 12 May 12
Angie Wright
says...
2:47pm Sat 12 May 12
They never have provided soya milk for tea/coffee despite promising it 3 years ago. I still ask every time I go . I just don't bother to buy anything now.
turtling.
says...
6:14pm Sat 12 May 12
John Steed
says...
7:35pm Sat 12 May 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:wrong, check out the road tax on my 1965 yank its £00.00 the road fund rate on all pre 1972 vehicles is Zero, zilch, didly squat, F-all and whats more my insurance is just £107.50 p/a fully comp and before you go yep but what about the petrol 25-30 mpg Oh and for those that dont want an old crock there a few new motors that are also zero rated road tax.
Nothing in life is free anymore.
not a lot is free these days I grant you but for the ingenious you will be surprised at what you can find that is
mimseycal
says...
7:41pm Sat 12 May 12
Morpheus
says...
9:31pm Sat 12 May 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:It never had been.
Nothing in life is free anymore.
Bushnelli
says...
1:07am Sun 13 May 12
turtling. wrote:You were one of them once.....how did you learn to swim or get to play in public as a child?? Were you toilet trained from birth......i think not!!! Well done on your short sighted comment.
Considering they are responsible for stinking and screaming the place down they should charge them £25, they all leak sewerage into the pool system...that's why it burns your eyes out if you're daft enough to go in after them
Morpheus
says...
9:30am Sun 13 May 12
Bushnelli wrote:There is some truth in the original post. I have a friend who takes her young son swimming at a pool in Suffolk. Although they have to wear baby nappies the pool has to be drained if one of them poos. These rules do not seem to apply in our pools, but it indicates the high cost of babies in pools.
turtling. wrote:You were one of them once.....how did you learn to swim or get to play in public as a child?? Were you toilet trained from birth......i think not!!! Well done on your short sighted comment.
Considering they are responsible for stinking and screaming the place down they should charge them £25, they all leak sewerage into the pool system...that's why it burns your eyes out if you're daft enough to go in after them
mimseycal
says...
9:58am Sun 13 May 12
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
10:24am Sun 13 May 12
Use breast milk it probably tastes better and won't be made using US grown GM cropped soya.
GIVE UP
says...
12:02pm Sun 13 May 12
turtling.
says...
7:51pm Sun 13 May 12
ith their saggy udders on display to one and all.....they should be banned outright
mimseycal
says...
8:29pm Sun 13 May 12
Angie Wright
says...
8:39am Mon 14 May 12
For me not to provide my own food drink, the cafe must provide something for me. many people are dairy intolerant. Not a problem after weaning, so why can't a cafe supply one of the plant milks , soya,almond etc. Some of us like it. Don't have a local and always buy a bag of crisps if desoerate and using a pubs facilities. . Don't tar the rest of us with your brush " GIVE UP ".
Take a good look in the mirror "TURTLING" many people might object to your looks but unless you wear a bag over your face the public will have to put up with it. Breast feeding in a large baggy T-Shirt means nothing is on show. Babies only have mother's milk to live on till weaned. It is a credit to those mothers who manage it with bigots like you.
Andy R
says...
8:44am Mon 14 May 12
mimseycal wrote:You're wasting your time. Experience shows that most people commenting here never get beyond the headline and the first paragraph.
Except that again, the charge referred to in this article has NOTHING to do with pools. It is for entry into a soft play area for their siblings ... an area I might add that the babies cannot play in.
Now if the article contained the word "green", you could expect some truly surreal comments.....
PETE OF QUEENS PARK says...
11:39am Sat 12 May 12