The Reg Maxwell Pool (Aylesbury) Experience - Part 1

[Lightupeejat]

i was up there once and i found a bunch of bricks in the wall really loose, i pulled them out and ther was a fucking balaclava jamed in there hidden away

[videomaster54321]

walked past it today (what's left of it) only like 2 metres of wall and a couple of rooms, rest has now been demolished, heck, as i type this, it's probably all gone

[Dav123xyz]

Just watched it again....what a shocking waste.

[Dav123xyz]

How did it get in that state?

+power left on???

All that tackle left up the top....gym equipemnt going to waste.  I've just spent good money on a treadmill...(shows our attitude to heath and fitness)

Looks like the marie celeste....

[Blueone3452123]

Used to love that red inflatable slide in the pool when I was two the lifeguard used too let me down it even though I was too young and that kiddie pool used too have frog floats it's the first swimming pool I ever went in when I was 5 months old . Some of my first memories

[ticktockremix]

Goodbye. The bank outside is fun to sled down though :)

[alienspratley]

its worse now, huge whole in the roof

[SimplyPaul]

@alienspratley Judging by the fencing going up around the site, the whole thing will be coming down very shortly. Goodbye Maxwell Pool!

[Leybrutal]

I remeber having my swimming lessons here in year 4! Such a shame to see it in that state...

[SimplyPaul]

@Leybrutal It's about to be demolished, I believe, to make way for a new shopping complex in town. I bet we still don't get an Ann Summers though ;)

[PanosDCC]

Wow, that is a quite shocking sight to see. You know, in my hometown (Xanthi, Greece), they're about to close our swimming pool and I'm pretty sure that one day it's going to end up in the state that Reg Maxwell pool currently is. We also have a lot of small tobacco storage rooms that they're abandoned for decades. Unfortunately, no-one has ever tried to explore those storage rooms.

[OrangeScythe]

is it still in tht state?

[dougie1525]

went there recently, the chairs r still in the main pool lol but none of the lights r on and loads of the roof has fallen in above the main pool, theyve now boarded it up again tho ive got a short vid, might put it on

[konvict411]

ur vidz r gr8.

5*'s

[steevitbh]

but what is this about the under ground bunkers. where are they?

[steevitbh]

went in there with a some friends a few months ago. its even worse than i expected from your video.

found a book that has a list of classes and names with times. added our names and wrote class of '09 underneath. havent got any video footage coz we were going to go back to following day and shoot some but it got boarded up before we got there so someone knew we were in there. got pictures though on our Facebooks.

[DiversityHD]

i went in there a few years ago but i was boarded up =/

[TheJedditytv]

I want to go in there, but when i had a look it was boarded up

Q_Q

[spoofisushi]

At 2:38 i remember lining up there waiting to go in as a kid.

[calco150]

what are they gonna do with it now?? just leave it, or more flats?

[Pyroman1990]

@calco150 Shopping Centre

[calco150]

seriously? that will be cool

[calco150]

aqua vale is horrid too,

[paulhegsydney]

this was one of many childhood memorys at this pool, now it looks like somthing out of Resident Evil:(

[paulhegsydney]

is this the old civic center where i use to go swimming back in 84 /86

[SimplyPaul]

This is just behind the Civic Centre, next to the car park, and would have been the only indoor pool in Aylesbury in the mid 80s.

[paulhegsydney]

I come from Aylesbury , which is pretty depressing, this video sums up the place nicely,

[moorhills]

Not only are we paying for the electricity it seems we are still paying for the line rental on the telephone as it is still connected and rings. Lets see how long it takes them to disconnect it.

[aprilapril2]

amazing. i must say that the new multi million pound pool they built with the hilarious after thought sauna [upstairs in the gym] is hideous.

[Volfmech]

Damn... Such a waste of money. Speaking of which, Do you know the building above QD? I wonder if the power is still on up there? It really woudnt surprize me!

[Pyroman1990]

its still in use, its storage. QD used to be CO-OP

[Volfmech]

Aye, I remember when it was Co-op. Massive floor space with all that titled flooring!

[aussieskiff]

SACK EM ! In 1997 my council tax bill was around 600 gb pounds now its arond 1300, Im not paying for their waste ..This bloody governments the same waste spend, waste spend some more print more money ... Quantative easing my arse their outta control and we're paying for it .

[annionion]

As for the gym stuff, it all look like it was working fine. The council also state that they did regular maintenance inspections, well that say it all about there standards of inspections. How often were the so called inspections carried out? (Not very often by the look of things) I think that AVDC are making excuses for there error and wont admit they made a bloody costly mistake.

[annionion]

AVDC said that it is checked regularly, if that is the case then surly they would have made more of an effort to make it more secure if when they entered the lights were on as they must have known it would cost as its not a small building. The man from the council said that they had a big break-in in 2007 so again it obvious people were still getting in as on Pauls vid the little pool was not full of rubbish but on the news it was full of rubbish...

[techie292]

Heating the pool hall air (not the pool water) is the biggest part of the energy consumption in swimming pools, around 75% in fact

So if its an average pool using 1,800,000 kWh per annum of gas then at 2.3p per kWh it would cost around 1,800,000 x 0.75 x £0.023 = £41,400 per annum to heat it, OUCH

As`for warm in June it does appear to have roof lighrs providing natural lighting and some solar gain in the summer.

[techie292]

If we assume from previous knowledge of the building that we have an average of 150 in number 50 watt lamps then we can calculate the wastage as follows

50 W times 150 lamps times 24 hour = 7500 W hours or 7.5 kWh

And if the vent is running say 2 x 30 kW motors then 60kW x 24 Hour = 1440 kWh

Electricity costs around 5.5 pence per kWh so

1440+7.5 =1448 kWh x £0.055 = £79.61 per day

In a year this is £29,058

The big question is was it being heated??

This would be the killer if so

[SimplyPaul]

It was nice and warm when I was in there... but it was June ;)

[OurVideoClips]

So AVDC now say: Between 2001 and 2007 the electricity supply was still connected so that the lights could be switched on to enable regular maintenance inspections to take place, safely".

Why on earth are AVDC wasting money carrying out "maintenance inspections" for on a disused, empty building for 8 years (and goodness knows how many more!)?

Sounds like there could be an ever bigger waste of money going on than leaving the lights on.

[ZombieSwift]

i presume because services for the civic carpark, the pool and the civic centre are all connected. If there was a problem at this pool place it could be problems for the rest of those things, But yeah i agree that something should be done with this disued building, they have enough money to build that bridge near morrisons

[aussieskiff]

Good to see our council tax put to some use!! Inside the building would make a good canvas for graffiti artists..Still AVDC could have invested our money in Iceland .Or did they ?Still this wont affect the councils final salary pension , that we're all paying in too.Also what I'd like to know is why the coucil has allowed a pikey camp to set up shop directly opposite worlds end nursery ,Where's the planning application and consultation with the local community . Thanks AVDC !!

[Meteorological]

If the issue of the pool, the lights etc was such a big issue to you why wait 2 years before publishing?

[SimplyPaul]

A very good question. I went on holiday to the Outer Hebrides shortly after taking this video. I put the tape in a draw before going and pretty much forgot all about it. It was only when I mentioned I had some footage while commenting on my Odeon video and other people's interest was piqued that I got around to finding it and capture/edit/uploading it. Is it a big deal to me? Not really. It wasn't me who drew the media's attention to it. I hope that answers your question.

[Meteorological]

AVDC Tories are intimating that the lights were off and that somehow they were turned on in a deliberate attack (for want of a better word) and they seem to be saying that you or someone connected to you, put the lights fans etc on, would you like to comment on this?

[SimplyPaul]

I've already responded to what I regard as AVDC's inopportune comments on this video and the other three. I don't want to repeat myself.

[d7106]

How did you get in there?

[SimplyPaul]

If you've seen the video, you'll know how I got in there. If you've not, I can recommend it as an interesting documentary of my visit.

[SimplyPaul]

A wiff of accusation in there. I did not break into or cause criminal damage to this building or its contents and I find the carefully worded non-suggestion to the contrary offensive.

The gym equipment I filmed in 2007 looked pretty usable to me, but I'm no expert.

[AVDCMEDIA]

An AVDC spokesperson said: Between 2001 and 2007 the electricity supply was still connected so that the lights could be switched on to enable regular maintenance inspections to take place, safely. The lights were not left on between visits. In June 2007, after a couple of break-ins when intruders switched on the lights, the electricity supply was disabled so that the lights could only be turned on from a plant room in another building.

[SimplyPaul]

The lights, the fans, the gym equipment... None of which would have been possible if the electricity was already being controlled from another site. Still, the reassurance that the lights hadn't been on for six years for me as an AVDC council tax payer is very... reassuring. Thank you for taking the time to post this.

[annionion]

Turn it in to an ice rink so they can at least keep the building and put it to good use, But then they may charge the earth to use it to pay for the 6 -8 year electric bill theyve run up lol

[bestiaccia]

I saw your video on the BBC yesterday! wooooooooo

I'm an even bigger fan now! :D

[satanicvicar]

im fucking going tere soon as haha

[9sublime]

all those excercise bikes and sutff... nobody stole them... in aylesbury??

[clarec87]

Barry where are you, and where is ur curly mate??x

[Andycfc2009]

Also simply Paul is there any way that these can be down loaded as my father would for personal reasons like to keep them as memories thanks

[SimplyPaul]

I think they'll be uploaded to my website this weekend. I'll put a note here if/when I get around to it.

[Andycfc2009]

Have just watched all the video's and has for me bought back some special memories as my father worked there for many years (lol and for the record Bucks Herald) every thing was truned off when the doors shut on the last day fact I have heard it from the the man who shut the door for the last time. Shame to see what it has truned into.

[lukeosborne]

It was nice to have a mention in the Bucks Herald, what a great frontpager this footage made.

[coderedracing]

Yeah, I saw that. I'll have to talk to you tomorrow.

[jamiekelly12]

I totally agree!

[12span34]

i swim for maxwell swim club aand i remember this pool so well its heartbreaking seein it like this. good pool and good times xx

[OurVideoClips]

Wouldn't be surprised if they found out it was some crazy health & safety requirement to leave the lights on in case somebody broke in and fell in the empty pool at the deep end.

[annionion]

hi paul, its ann adams friend the interview i did with bbc went ok. good work

[Pyroman1990]

Hey Ann, Harry here!

[annionion]

hi harry small world that it was ur dad i got the ballon flight from for pauls brother and u talk to paul quite a bit

[Pyroman1990]

Lol, yeah. I'm studying T.V., the interview must have been interesting.

[SimplyPaul]

Good to know. I hope they can use it and nothing more news-worthy happens between now and when it's broadcast to bump it. It's like a 'people who have met my brother, or sons there of' reunion in here. As Pyro' said in a mail to me; small world.

[Clarice007]

What a waste! I could use this venue for something really good!

[SimplyPaul]

The pool areas certainly had something of the art space about them. I just had a call from the Beeb again, to check it was ok for them to use my video. It was and is :)

[SimplyPaul]

'm told BBC Oxford local TV news may be running a story on the power being on tonight. 6.30-7pm. I've sent them a few still photos I took too. Good write-up in the Bucks Herald I though. It's nice that they say I should be commended. I don't think I've been commended before. Condemned, yes, but not commended... Thanks for the comments folks :)

[LoopyPC]

I think you might get view of this video going up, I miss the view of swimming pool, Cant wait to show to my sister.

[Aylesburylocksmith]

Well done. Just seen Bucks Herald. Great videos

[LoopyPC]

Guess what? You're on Bucks Hearld about that video lol, Now im attracted to see what's inside the swimming pool as i been there when i was 10 year old and watching my sister doing swimming compeition and i remember some of swimming stuffs like big clock in chanaging rooms.

[blazinbadboy]

simply paul do you no how to get in there as there is no way in i tried but its locked can you message me the way how to get inside many thanks & good videos man you got any more videos off buildings in aylesbury i have been in the old cienma its wicked man emaiil me the way in & look @ my videos safe man.

[SimplyPaul]

Blud, I got in the way you see here, via a board that was down. While passing the pool today it did look a lot more secure. I've no other suggestions for entrances; I just hope they turned the power off before they sealed the place up properly! Glad you liked scopping da vidie. Respek. Peace. We out. (etc)

[backinthadayz]

AVDC is a disgrace.

They'll happily let this venue rot.

Close the only open air pool for miles.

Then kindly build in return, a pool, which is cramped, over charge you for the privilege of using it, only to impose a time limit and kick you out before you get you moneys worth.

Shocking.

Cheers for the post.

[TasteTank]

I have also been in here, long before you made this may i add, something which would have been cool for your video is to turn on the pump on connected to the big inflatable slide that is on the larger pool floor, it inflates still to a whopping 40 or so feet high, rather fun to jump onto from the ledge ;)

[Taxtation]

looks vandelised to me (sp)

[konvict411]

UR VIDZ R GR8 M8, KEEP IT UP.

[klingoncelt]

Someone's been using the place. It's too clean, there should be dust and rats everywhere, and mold.

[SimplyPaul]

Too clean? I'd love to see your house! :D

There was some dust. You need damp to make mold, and the roof's not failed yet. And you need food to encourage rats; nothing for them to eat=no rats (that I saw anyway).

[klingoncelt]

I meant too clean for a place that had been empty for 6 years. When you were looking at the ledgers and other items, a small cloud of dust should have puffed up. Metal and plastic surfaces were still shiny. I've been in disused pool houses, there's often mold all over the dressing rooms and showers.

Rats will live anywhere and eat everything. Eww.

What really gets me is that the lights haven't all burned out, especially the flourescents.

Creepy.

[Pyroman1990]

I think it closed in 1999 when the cinema opened

[SimplyPaul]

But we found a pool timetable from 2001, so...?

[Zealey]

The wasted power!!! I guess this is what our taxes go on!!!

[mediumdrums069]

wicked vids, thanks for these mate...bringin back memories for sure.

[bestiaccia]

It looks like an episode of "Survivors"!!

[lemmingzappa]

Brilliant videos, thanks alot for this, more people should do exploring of this kind !

Brings back early memories....

[lukeosborne]

Thanks so much, just to think i had many swimming galas there, only 6 or so years ago. It was a fine pool as well.

Absolute shocker that all electricity was on, i think lidington should know about this. I'm suprised no one had nicked the gym equipment, which seemed in superb condition considering their lack of use!

[mattmay05]

its just like everyone uped an left a great film tho!

[LUNATIC75]

A bit of shocker! I can't believe how they just seemed to abandon the place.

Brings back a few memories too.