We’re set to install a new Poolpod for those with restricted mobility, with the support from Musselburgh Common Good Fund

Enjoy Leisure, East Lothian’s charitable trust for sports, leisure, and active lifestyles, is set to install a Poolpod platform lift at Musselburgh Sports Centre later this year. This will help all of our members and customers get into the pool with confidence and dignity.

The pod installation was made possible thanks to an investment from Musselburgh Common Good Fund.

The Poolpod will replace a traditional pool hoist, giving the user full independence as they can operate the controls via a wristband. It’s not only the disabled community that the pod will benefit; it’s there for anyone to use, whether they feel a bit unsteady entering the pool or have young children.

Bill Axon, our Chief Executive, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Musselburgh Common Good Fund for their generous support. The Poolpod, which was originally developed for the 2012 Olympics, will be a fantastic addition to our Musselburgh Sports centre and will allow more of our customers and members to benefit from swimming and easy access to the pool. We hope this will encourage more people to consider swimming as a safe and agreeable form of physical activity.

“Wellness remains at the top of the agenda for us and we are committed to increasing activity participation levels across all ages, abilities and backgrounds. I’m extremely proud that we are leading the way with these up-to-date installations.

“Thanks to the support from North Berwick Trust, we were able to install a Poolpod in our North Berwick Leisure Centre last year. The feedback from our members and customers has been overwhelmingly positive. With the addition of this second Poolpod, even more people across East Lothian will now have access to our swimming pool facilities. We remain committed to making every effort to attract more funding and support for such advancements in all our facilities, with our overriding objective being that no one is restricted in visiting and/or participating in their chosen activity.”

Councillor Colin McGinn, Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Sport, Countryside and Leisure, said: “The installation of the new Poolpod is a very exciting development at Musselburgh Sports Centre. I know there has been positive feedback on a similar facility at North Berwick Leisure Centre, which is great to hear. By making it even easier for swimmers to access the facility, it should increase opportunities for people to enjoy the benefits of using the Musselburgh pool in terms of wellbeing and having fun.”

Anyone wishing to find out more can visit the centre to speak to a member of the team or give them a call on 0131 653 5208.