‘Unsafe’ showers at Stimpson’s Piece closed after report

The showers in Stimpson’s Piece pavilion, Reepham, were closed as of 10 December after a report described them as unsafe. The decision was made by Reepham Town Council, which is the trustee of the town’s recreational ground, following Wednesday’s council meeting.
 

 
The Council said it was forced into the decision as Reepham Town Football Club, which is the main user of the facilities, had failed to formally agree to take over responsibility for the changing rooms and showers in terms of cleaning, maintenance and water management.
 
A report commissioned by the trustees deemed that weekly testing for Legionnaires’ and other serious water-borne diseases could not be undertaken until certain alterations were made to the shower fittings.
 
As the Town Council would be liable if someone contracted any of these diseases from the facilities, councillors felt they could not ignore the report and had no option but to suspend use of the showers.
 
The trustees voted unanimously to close them with immediate effect and until an effective management plan was in place. They further proposed to disable the showers with padlocks and would investigate cutting off the water supply, and would put up signs to that effect.
 
The football club had been given two months’ notice of the possibility that the showers could be closed if it did not agree to take over their management, but had failed to respond by the 9 December deadline.
 
Speaking on behalf of the Stimpson’s Piece working group, which represents all users of the recreational facility, David Loxton said there was intent for the football club to take over this responsibility, but the trustees explained that they had not received any commitment from the club to this effect.
 
The football club was further criticised for failing to clarify all hirings and confirm bookings in writing as had been agreed during a meeting with the trustees on 9 October.
 
At the trustees meeting later that month it had been agreed that the football club, as with all other users of the pavilion, must confirm all hirings, such as match fixtures and training sessions as well as social events, in writing by 23 October or no longer be allowed to hire the building.
 
The trustees noted that this deadline had well passed and that the football club had failed to respond to repeated requests to confirm their use of the facility.
 
What is Legionnaires’ disease?
 
Legionellosis is a collective term for diseases caused by legionella bacteria, including the most serious and potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease, as well as the similar but less serious conditions of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever.
 
Legionnaires’ disease was named after an outbreak of a severe pneumonia-like disease that occurred at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, in July 1976, where there was a convention of the American Legion.
 
The bacterium Legionella pneumophila, the causative organism for most cases of Legionnaires’ disease, was thought to have been present in the hotel’s cooling towers.
 
Water droplets in the form of an aerosol somehow contaminated the hotel’s air-conditioning systems, which allowed the bacteria to come into contact with the convention guests, a highly susceptible population as the risk of infection increases with age. Of the 182 reported cases (mostly men), 29 died.
 
The bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease and related bacteria are common found in natural water sources, such as ponds, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, where they do not usually cause problems.
 
Outbreaks can occur in purpose-built water systems where temperatures are warm enough to encourage growth of the bacteria, for example in cooling towers, evaporative condensers and whirlpool spas, and from water used for domestic purposes in buildings such as hospitals, care homes, hotels, sports centres, office blocks, etc.
 
The symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are similar to those of influenza: mild headaches, muscle pain, high temperature (fever) and chills. Once bacteria begin to infect the lungs, symptoms of pneumonia may be experienced, such as: a persistent cough, which is usually dry at first, but as the infection develops phlegm or, rarely, blood may be coughed up; shortness of breath; and chest pains.
 
To prevent the occurrence of Legionnaires’ disease, companies and organisations must comply with regulations requiring them to manage, maintain and treat water systems properly. Among other things, this means the water must be treated, and the system tested and cleaned regularly.
 

Related stories: