This is the new rule that will apply from next week at the Center Aquatique du Lac in Tours and at the Thermes de Luynes. From this Monday, June 27, you will have to book and pay for your bathing slot on the internet. before heading to the pool. A new regulation to curb the massive and sometimes uncontrollable arrival of dozens of young minors.
Having to manage but above all undergo the law of these groups of young minors who invite themselves into swimming pools without respecting the rules, “It is a phenomenon that we have already known for several years from the first heat.”
David Lagache, the director of the Center Aquatique du Lac in Tours is not really surprised after what happened last weekend and the various incidents that forced the establishment to close its doors prematurely. “It was their behavior that was becoming untenable with more than a hundred young people who had regrouped in a few minutes.”
The same incidents have been reported several times in recent weeks at the Thermes de Luynes. Who also decided to make the bathing cap compulsory. As is already the case at the Aquatic Center of the Lake.
Up to 7 weekend vigils?
Already confronted with these phenomena of bands, the aquatic center of the Lake first beefed up its teams. “We have reinforcements for our pool surveillance teams and last weekend we went up to 7 security guards.”
Should minors have access to swimming pools?
But to avoid an uncontrollable influx of groups of young people, the swimming pool considers that it has no other choice than to regulate access to swimming pools for minors who are not accompanied by an adult. For it, the Aquatic Center of the Lake proposes to create a minor pass at 1 euro. “These are membership fees which will have to be co-written by the parent and the child as a sort of registration file. The latter can then come the following times alone to the establishment without being accompanied by ‘an adult”. Subject of course to the purchase of a day ticket or a monthly pass.
“Thanks to this pass, the objective is to empower both parents and children. Because unfortunately, I think parents leave their children aged 12, 13, 14 during the day without imagining all that behind.”
Already validated by the sports and culture commission of the Metropolis of Tours, this minor pass at 1 euro must be definitively adopted by the metropolitan council. Problem, the left opposition does not want it because it sees it as a stigmatizing measure. Will it be discussed again at the next council meeting on Monday evening? No clear confirmation from our elected officials.