Cold shower at the pool cash desk

The managing director of the Amstetten event company (AVB) Christoph Heigl, the operations manager for the swimming pools Reinhard Walter, Mayor Christian Haberhauer (VP) and the councilor of the coalition partner of the Greens, Sarah Hörlezeder, posed for a group photo that was attached to a press release in December about a social generosity: in the Ulmerfelder Heidebad and the new municipal pool, at that time still a construction site, admission for children up to six years of age would be free in the future. “It should be an affordable pool for all Amstetten residents,” the mayor added, adding that “it is very important that children can learn to swim here.”

“Children free up to six years”

While children up to school age have always been allowed through the turnstiles for free in the swimming pools of all other municipalities, the black-green coalition of the town hall has at least caught up with a general practice. Previously, in Amstetten, during the days when the SP ruled the town hall, parents of five-year-olds were charged for swimming. Now that the new tariffs have been introduced at the start of the season, the prices at the pool ticket office are – to put it mildly – even steep compared to other municipalities. At 9 euros for a day’s admission for an adult and 6.80 euros for a child, the municipal pool, which opens on June 29th, is the leader in terms of price increases far and wide. With a flow channel, compressed air jets, a 75-meter-long water slide and a huge swimming pool, it may be an adventure park, but even at the ticket office of the “normal” Heidebad in Ulmerfeld, a mother who wants to go swimming with her child for a day will shell out 13.10 euros. And for a season ticket, a family of four (two adults, two children) has to pay 420 euros.

SP: Tariffs for locals

The SP has now expressed massive criticism of what it considers to be excessive tariffs. At least for families living in Amstetten, the prices must be reduced as soon as possible, demands Vice Mayor Gerhard Riegler (SP): “There are families who cannot afford to go on holiday, and for them the pool must remain affordable during the holidays.” Sarah Hörlezeder (G) asserts that it is “very important that Amstetten’s pools are and remain affordable” and accuses the SP of having agreed to the pricing structure at the last AVB advisory board meeting, according to the minutes, and now suddenly changing its mind. Riegler points out that the SP had already been against the price increases in December. As far as a discount is concerned, the advisory board meeting in question pointed in the opposite direction. Mayor Haberhauer spoke of “introductory prices” – “pre-opening tariffs” – for the tariffs for the new public pool, as in the business world, which are to be increased significantly in the following years.

VP refers to vouchers

With the new city pool, which is currently being built at a cost of 30 million euros and will be in top condition, and the Heidebad, which is currently in the best condition available, the bathers are also being offered something, counters the VP. The Amstetten family pass comes with around eight vouchers for free entry to the leisure facilities (pools, ice rink). The price-performance ratio is reasonable and the rates are socially acceptable with the city’s family activities.