Remember to register your vehicle on one of the tablets at reception or via the QR codes on posters around the building!
To avoid a fine, enter your plate number and select Visitor 4 hours, for 4 hours free parking as a customer.
If via QR code, enter your plate number and tick both the boxes before submitting.
Parking Eye update following the system going live on February 17th
Our parking system was installed Thursday February 6th and went live on Monday February 17th when Parking Eye installed signs in the carpark to advise customers on the new parking conditions, including the need for customers to enter their vehicle registration onto the Parking Eye system. At the same time, we put up signage at the reception desk, on the reception barriers and on the door leading to the changing rooms and spectator area, to remind customers to validate their parking when they come to the pool. The staff members on reception also been reminding customers to enter their car registration numbers into one of the two tablets that we have in the reception area or to use the QR code on the signs in reception to do this on their phones.
How long do customers have to enter their car registration numbers?
Some customers have expressed concern that if they forget to enter their registration number when they arrive at the pool, and do this as they leave, they may still receive a parking fine. We have confirmed with Parking Eye that as long as customers record their car registration number before they leave the pool, then they can park at the pool for up to four hours for free.
We have also confirmed with Parking Eye that if a customer forgets to record their car registration number when they are at the pool, as long as they do this later on the same day before the pool closes, their parking on that day will still be free for up to four hours. Customers in this position could also call the pool and ask the staff on reception to do this on their behalf to avoid them having to travel back to the pool.
Reducing the Parking Eye fines for our customers
Customers who visit the pool and forget to record their registration number on the same day as their visit will receive a letter from Parking Eye a few days later. This includes details of the day and time that the customer parked at the pool and requests that they pay a fine of £100 to Parking Eye, which can be reduced to £60 if it is paid within 14 days of the date issued on the letter.
In this situation, customers should contact the pool reception by phone (0191 4329 444) or email (info@birtleycommunitypool.org.uk) as soon as possible and let us know their name, registration number, the date of the parking fine and their phone number or email address, so we can contact the customer if any clarification is required.
Birtley Community Pool will then contact Parking Eye and ask them to reduce the fine to £20, which is just to cover their costs. Once customers have done this, they should not pay the original fine and should instead wait until they have received a new letter, with the reduced £20 fine, before they make their payment. We have already agreed with Parking Eye that they will reduce fines to £20 for our customers.
If customers feel they have strong mitigating circumstances as to why they did not enter their registration number whilst they were at the pool, please also provide us with this information and Birtley Community Pool will share this with Parking Eye.
Whenever you visit the pool, please remember to record your registration number on one of the tablets in reception, or by using the QR code on your phone whilst you are at the pool. This will ensure that you don’t receive a parking fine.
Why did Birtley Community Pool install the Parking Eye system?
We installed the Parking Eye Solution to ensure thar the pool car park is used by our customers, rather than having other people parking there who are not using the pool. We were aware that prior to this being introduced, some people were often leaving their cars in the pool car park for long periods but were not using the pool, therefore stopping our customers using the car park at busy times.
Customers who enter their registration number into the tablets are able to park for free for up to four hours. People who want to use the car park but are not using the pool now have to pay for their parking or they will receive a fine which they will have to pay. The parking fees are additional income for Birtley Community pool.
Improve your physical and mental health at Birtley Community Pool
Birtley Community Pool reopened in September as a community run charity, after it was closed for over a year by Gateshead Council. Over £400,000 was raised by a combination of local support, two Crowdfunding campaigns and other local donations, and funding from several large organisations including the Community Ownership Fund, the National Lottery and The Royal Foundation.
The Royal Foundation is Prince William’s charity and he visited the pool on October 3rd 2024 along with several Olympic swimmers to celebrate the reopening of the pool.
The trustees and staff who run the pool have created a warm and welcoming, family friendly place which offers a range of activities for all ages and abilities. The pools are kept warmer than average: 29°C for the main and improver pools, and 31°C for the small pool, which is real tonic during those long, cold, winter months. The new LED lighting has created a lighter, brighter environment in the pool area for both swimmers and spectators.
How does swimming help your health and wellbeing?
Swimming is a vital life skill which improves cardio-vascular health, burns lots of calories, and supports mental wellbeing. It’s especially beneficial for older adults, pregnant women, those with disabilities, and people recovering from injuries.
Swimming is also an opportunity to socialise and meet new people during a family fun session, or when participating in an aquafit session, or just when swimming with others in a public session
Yvonne Probert, chair of Birtley Community Pool Trustees, said “the benefits of swimming are significant and wide ranging, and we want to encourage more of the community to experience those benefits by participating in activities at our pool”
Activities available at Birtley Community Pool
Whether you’re looking just to swim a few lengths, improve your fitness and swimming technique, or simply have fun with your family, Birtley Community Pool has something for everyone and is open seven days a week
Fast, medium and slow lanes are available throughout the week for those who swim for fitness, whilst the rest of the main pool and the small pool are available for families or those who like to swim at a more leisurely pace.
Five Aquafit sessions and an Aqua-Intro session provide a different way to exercise in the water, which are delivered by three qualified instructors. We introduced a new aquafit session on Saturday mornings starting February 8th.
On Friday evenings (7.15pm to 8.15pm), Saturdays (2pm to 3pm and 3.15pm to 4.15pm) and Sundays (1pm to 2pm and 2.15pm to 3.15pm) there are family fun sessions including a giant inflatable obstacle course and a water slide, which are very popular but don’t need to be booked in advance. Pool parties are available on Saturdays and Sundays, once the public family fun sessions have finished. Once a month, we have a floating sound bath session, when participants enjoy 60 minutes of soothing relaxation.
Swimming lessons are provided daily by Swim City, an award-winning swim school, including lessons for mothers and babies, pre-school children and adults, as well as children of school age.
Prices for the different activities are competitive and affordable, and a monthly membership option is available for those who want to swim regularly at the pool.
Public swimming starts from 6.15am every weekday morning and from 7am at weekends. Lane swimming is available all day until 6pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 7pm on Wednesdays, 9.30pm on Thursdays and 4pm on Fridays. Late evening swimming is also available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 8pm to 9.30pm.
Vending machines in our reception area provide a wide range of hot drinks, cold snacks and chilled water. We also sell a range of swimwear and swimming equipment. We have free Wi-Fi throughout the building and a large spectator area overlooking the pools, with tables and chairs and a soft play area for younger children to use. Details about the activities, prices and the pool timetable are all available on the website.
Matthew Grant, treasurer of Birtley Community Pool Trustees, said “Our regular customers are enjoying these activities and giving us great feedback. If you haven’t yet visited us, please come to the pool, give one of our activities a try and support your local community asset at the same time”.
Timetables
February Half-Term Timetable
March Timetable
