No drinking water at Sobell leisure centre

Sobell Leisure Centre has recently undergone a very welcome rennovation, with a new ice-hockey rink and newly-surfaced badminton courts. I was enjoying the new courts only this morning (won two, lost two - thanks for asking).

What's less welcome is the disappearance of the old water fountain and the consequent lack of any public access to drinking water in the building. The taps in the changing rooms have prominent warnings on them that the water is not fit to drink (see photo, above); the water fountain that used to stand next to badminton court 1a has vanished and when I asked the staff on reception what I could do they advised me that the gym had a water fountain but that the gym was for members only and they may or may not let me in to use it.

People exercise at Sobell; they play sport; and consequently they get dehydrated. It is neither pleasant nor safe to let people exercise without access to drinking water. And in case you think it's just a brilliant money-making scheme to force people to use the expensive drinks machine in the lobby - this morning, that was out of order too!