Race against time to fill Portishead pool
Trustees and TV crews are battling against the clock to get Portishead's Open Air Pool filled with water ready for the preview evening tonight.
Teams working on the makeover of the lido have less than 12 hours to get the pool, which holds 650,000 litres (143,000 gallons) of water, full.
The fire brigade arrived on site on Sunday to start filling the pool from a hydrant outside.
But they were told they could not open the hydrant to its full capacity because if they did, water pressure at thousands of homes across the town could plummet and some homes could be left without a supply.
On Tuesday morning the pool was only half full and trustees and TV bosses have been working with Bristol Water to resolve the issue.
Pool trustee Roger Whitfield said: "It is going to be touch and go whether we get the pool filled ready for tonight.
"We have been liaising with the fire brigade and Bristol Water to see how we can get the pool filled without compromising the water supply for the people of Portishead.
"The problem has been getting the pool filled to tie in with filming and work deadlines."
Bristol Water has given pool trustees a donation of £500 to help with the makeover and have had managers on site working to resolve the issue of filling the pool.
The flow of water into the lido has to be controlled carefully to stop pressure falling elsewhere.
Bristol Water spokesman, Jeremy Williams, said: "We are doing everything we can to help the trustees and the TV makeover team to fill the pool ready for tonight.
"The problem is that they want to fill the pool very quickly from the fire hydrant to fit in with the filming schedule.
"However, if we allowed this to happen, then around a third of Portishead residents could be left with poor water pressure or without supply at all, which would not be acceptable.
"We have been working with the trustees, film crews and the fire brigade to show them how to use the hydrant to fill the pool slowly as to not affect supplies.
"The pool used to be filled by a mains connection and used to take four to five days to fill.
"The filling of the pool this time is being done to fit in with filming and this is why they need it done as quickly as possible.
"We have co-operated with the pool trust and the film crews every step of the way, but we cannot allow people to be without water and our customers have to be our top priority.
"We think the pool makeover is a fantastic project and have given the trust financial support.
"We will do all we can to help ensure the pool is full and ready for the opening."
5 Comments
by DR, Bristol-mainly
Thursday, May 21 2009, 10:47AM
“Graffiti is never acceptable (including that of the vandal, Banksy), art lover of Portishead. You claim to 'know' the perpetrators of the Swimming Pool doodling - well, you should have attempted to stop the silly exercise. (And then gone on to learn how to smarten up your use of grammar & spelling.)”
by Art Lover, Portishead
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 6:21PM
“So Mr DR, when does graffitti become acceptable? If it is signed by Banksy, then its worth thousands in whatever area its in?
My point is that some young person/people I knwo not who have gone to a lot of trouble to create a piece of artwork that is representative of a form of art that is a part of modern youth culture, has nothing whatsoever to do with self indulgence and you really need to get out more.
And yes, I guarantee that some conservationist will indeed be bemoaning its presence in that particualr location in the very near future.
Or are you merely impying that Portishead is not a 'decent' area simply because someone has had the sense to invite young people to become involved in a community project and add to it spectacularly?”
by DR, Bristol-mainly
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 4:02PM
“Dear 'art lover of Portishead' - how rude you are about the conservationists. You seem to be quite unable to recognise that meaningless grafitti, a product of slum areas, is daubed by the self-indulgent, and most certainly not in keeping with any decent area.”
by Art lover, Portishead
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 2:59PM
“You're totally right about the orange but I must admit there is a wonderful display of top quality graffitti decorating the outside wall on Battery Point. Seriously, it IS a work of art and I hope those locals who always moan about graffitti recognise it as the work of art it truly is.
That is until the conservationists pint out that it's not in keeping with the area.”
by david, bristol
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 12:47PM
“WHAT AN EYESORE ORANGE FOR PITTYS SAKE WHY DIDNT THEY PAINT IT MORE IN WITH THE SOUROUNDING AREA AROUND THE POOL”