The closure of the Link Centre due to flood damage has been labelled as a 'disaster for Swindon', but especially for parents.

The swimming pool has been closed to families for the foreseeable future, after the leisure centre did a fair bit of underwater swimming itself when it was hit by major floods on September 17.

The leisure firm has said that the pool will be closed until December.

“We’re working incredibly hard to try and get the first phase of facilities back open, but there are so many unknowns that it’s difficult to pin that down to a date that we can put out into the public domain," GLL Better's partnership manager Barnaby Rich told the BBC.

This has left many parents wanting to teach their children the vital skill of swimming with nowhere to go.

Swindon Advertiser: The Link Centre has faced huge flood damage which has caused the centre to close for several months.The Link Centre has faced huge flood damage which has caused the centre to close for several months. (Image: Dave Cox)

“My children are part of a local swim club at the Link Centre so we used it very often,” said Stacy Smith, from Swindon.

“The pool is vital for developing swimmers. It’s also so important for those who want to stay active and for families looking to spend time together,” she added.

Stacy says she is lucky that the swim club managed to switch her children, one of whom trains for competitions, to a different pool outside of Swindon until the Link Centre can reopen.

However, she believes that there aren’t enough leisure facilities in Swindon to support the demand.

Tiger Shark Swimming Club and the Swindon Wildcats club, who used the centre, told BBC Radio Wiltshire:

"Pool space elsewhere is full already, and one site just didn’t want a swimming club in.”

“The club is now having to look as far as Bath and Oxford to find time in the pool for the dozens of children that are part of it.”

While the Link Centre remains closed, we’ve compiled a list of where else you can go to swim, in and around Swindon.

Dorcan recreation complex

This complex is run by the company Better, and serves East Swindon. The site was refurbished in 2021, and offers a swimming pool and changing facilities.

The pool is open 7am-10pm Monday-Friday, as well as 9am-3pm on Saturdays and 9am-1pm on Sundays. You can sign up for swim for all sessions, swim fit sessions or the Better Swim School, at £7 for adult non-members and £5 for juniors.

Ridgeway leisure centre

This leisure centre sits inside The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form, and is run by the school itself. However, it is open to the public from 4pm on weekdays, and from 9am on the weekends.

The school offer casual swims and family sessions, as well as ladies-only swim sessions.

Cricklade leisure centre

This leisure centre just outside of Swindon is privately run, but offers lane swimming, family sessions, and fun and floats for the kids.

Swims cost £5 per adult and £3.50 per child.

Lime Kiln Leisure Centre

Getting a bit further afield from Swindon, Lime Kiln centre in Royal Wootton Bassett a Wiltshire Council-run leisure centre.

The pool is open 7am-10pm during the week, and 8am-5pm on weekends. Sessions on offer include lane swimming, family swims and a swim club.

Non members pay £5.80 for an adult swim and juniors or seniors pay £4.80.

Faringdon leisure centre

This Oxfordshire leisure centre, just outside of Swindon, is another one owned by social enterprise Better.

The centre offers long opening hours, from 6.30am-10pm during the week and 7.30am-5pm at the weekends.

You can attend three types of sessions: ‘swim for fitness’, ‘family fun’ and ‘swim for all’.