Public swimming pool shouldn't be used for canoeing

I do not understand why the Singapore Sports Council allows canoeing practices at the Clementi public swimming pool.

Over the recent weekend, one of the deep pools was closed to swimmers, as a group of canoeists used it for their practice.

One would expect that the appropriate places to practise canoeing would be in the open sea or the reservoirs - certainly not in a public swimming pool.

Besides, the swimming pool is simply too small for such an event.

Of late, I have observed that the pool is often used for activities other than swimming. Besides canoeing, it is also used for water aerobics and scuba diving.

Although I live in Clementi and the pool is about 500m from my flat, I often have to travel to Jurong West to use the pool run by Safra, as the Clementi pool is overutilised for activities other than swimming.

I hope the authorities will make it a rule that public swimming pools be used strictly for swimming - and not for canoeing.

Even if the pool is used for canoeing, it should be allowed only on weekdays and not weekends, when the demand for the pool is much higher.

Chua Seng Kee