La Turbie municipal pool to remain closed

The Princess Charlene of Monaco municipal swimming pool is to remain closed for the summer after a ruling by the new La Turbie municipal council this week.

The people of La Turbie and the Principality have received a “bitter” blow. The continued closure of the public swimming pool in the town means people will need to find other ways to keep cool this summer, but the reasoning, says the municipal council, is justified.

“The health protocol that would have to be implemented would require time slots recognisable by the swimmers’ coloured bracelets,” Mayor Jean-Jacques Raffaele said. “Between each time slot, the changing rooms, showers, toilets and benches would have to be disinfected and departure differentiated so that there is no mixing of people. Managing the wait, limiting the public depending on the cabins, and guaranteeing the physical distance.”

The mayor argues that all of this would create a labour intensive situation far too confusing and difficult to maintain indefinitely, not to mention costly. The need for four cleaning and maintenance crew members, two receptionists, two lifeguards, and a water quality inspector make the opening untenable for the town.

Plus, adds Mr Raffaele, the overall health concerns are still high enough that the risk is hardly worth the benefit.