Gould Swim Academy has taken aim at Albury Wodonga Health for its facility being suggested without any consultation.

“Past users of the hydrotherapy pool have been given misleading information regarding our facility due to Albury Wodonga Health not doing their homework,” owner Janine Gould said.

“The majority of the past users will be unable to access our pool.

“It is deplorable that Albury Wodonga Health believe they can simply pass the buck and hope someone else will fill the gap in services they have created by closing this very much needed facility in our local community.”

Alternative pool options have been listed on the health service’s website with the hydrotherapy pool closure dragging on and no timeframe provided for its scheduled re-opening.

“Albury Wodonga Health staff either visited or rang each pool service to ascertain what facilities they have,” AWH physiotherapy manager Melissa Lucas said.

“AWH is in no way making a recommendation as to which pool to use.

“We were wanting to advise of the services that are available to those users who could no longer access the pool here.

“We were trying to be helpful.”

Ms Gould said “numerous enquiries” had been made to Gould Swim Academy.

“Sadly we are unable to assist most people,” she said.

“We always have, and still do, offer our pool for people to use for rehabilitation or gentle exercise for limited hours during the week as the water temperature is 32 degrees.

“However, these hours will be further limited from now to the end of the school year due to us hosting many local schools for their swimming programs.”

The Gould Swim Academy pool also has challenges for elderly users.

“The catch is that our facility is only able to be used by people who are able to enter and exit the water via a ladder,” Ms Gould said.

“We do not have graduated stairs, ramp or hoist to assist people in or out.

“We do not conduct classes or prescribe exercises to assist as we are not qualified to do this.

“Gould Swim Academy is first and foremost a learn-to-swim school.”