WEST PARK GRUMBLES



WEST PARK LEISURE



At a recent Erewash Council "Executive" meeting they were patting themselves on the back about the number of complaints they had received. Apart from the complexities of the on-line complaints system, which is hard to fathom at the best of times. The smug comments that came from Councillors contrasted starkly with a tale told to me by a parent, whose offspring had been swimming at West Park, Long Eaton. His ten year old, after putting over £1 in a vending machine, making a selection and not getting what they wanted was encouraged by the father to trot up to the desk for assistance. The machines are nothing to do with us was the message. Dad intervened that can't be right he queried. You'll have to ring "the Company" he was told. Who do I complain to he said getting a little peeved. Her, said a member of staff, pointing to another member of staff, or the Manager he was told. In the end he went away without officially complaining and his child, after pressing a few more buttons, managed to get a different product. (A bit like voting Lib-Dem and getting Tory.)



The result was a very unhappy customer who was still seething about the treatment he had received over a week later. A bit of diplomacy could have won further custom. Is is right that children who lose money are told to phone a vending machine company to get help with a faulty machine? What a way to run a Leisure Centre, come back Mr Brittas all is forgiven.

P.S. Sometime when you've got half an hour to spare, log on to the Council's Web-Site and try to find the Council's on-line complaints form. What fun!