Aurora could have NI’s first AI lifeguard service

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By Lesley Walsh

BANGOR Aurora’s pool looks set to get Northern Ireland’s first AI lifeguard technology to boost safety for swimmers. If proven successful, the Lynxight Assisted Lifeguard Technology could be also introduced to the Ards Blair Mayne leisure complex’s pool.

Councillors at a recent meeting of the Community and Wellbeing Committee agreed to approve the bid by Serco, which manages the Bangor leisure centre, as long as assurances were made that the system will not lead to a reduction in lifeguard numbers. The move towards the lastest technology in swimmer safety is in line with Serco Leisure’s use of the system in seven of its sites in England, with plans to expand that to 20 in the near future. The innovation would result in a new ‘blended approach to lifeguarding that combines human supervision of the pool with computerised monitoring and detection systems’.

In a report to the committee councillors were told SERCO have commissioned a site survey with the system installers, Omega, who have confirmed the suitability of the Aurora site for the proposed installation. The cost of the installation will be funded in full by Serco, as well as annual license fees of £1,600 per year, and all associated maintenance and servicing costs. “Upon conclusion of the current Leisure Services contract (with SERCO), post 2028, the council could decide whether or not to retain the system, either taking on the annual licencing fee or requesting that Serco Leisure remove all associated equipment at their cost,” stated the report.

Councillors welcomed the proposals with any concerns focusing on the need to assure lifeguard posts would be safeguarded. SDLP councillor Joe Boyle enquired if the plans were ‘for greater protection’ and not to ‘make lifeguards redundant’ and was told by Ian O’Neill, head of Leisure Services, that was ‘indeed the case’. He stressed that the council’s recommendation on the proposals had been ‘carefully worded’ to ensure lifeguard numbers – and those required per swimmer under the relevant governing body – were retained. 

Alliance Party councillor Victoria Moore said she ‘wasn’t entirely clear about Serco’s motivation’ in introducing the proposals, which she recognised marked an investment by the operator and asked ‘what are the benefits’. 

Mr O’Neill said that ‘in terms of motivation’ the new system would herald ‘better lifeguarding and more supported lifeguarding systems as they have already in several sites in England’, offering inherent benefits. 

Councillor Naomi McBurney, also Alliance, queried ‘what accountability measures’ would be in place to ensure the number of lifeguards are not reduced if the new system proved successful. The Leisure Services boss assured her Serco had to comply with industry standards of lifeguard numbers. 

Green Party councillor Lauren Kendall said she would have preferred to see a risk assessment prior to the introduction of the new system, but Mr. O’Neill explained that could only be done in situ, within the poolside setting. 

Ms Kendall added that as a self-confessed ‘geek’, she welcomed the AI innovation, but queried on-going running costs, stating she feared any companies with a monopoly on ‘fixing these’ would charge sky high rates. 

Mr O’Neill said Serco had a ‘lot of experience’ with the system and as a ‘very very good operator’ they were bringing in Northern Ireland’s first system of its kind ‘at their own cost’. 

“If it works and it’s brilliant and we’ve been using it for three years under their auspices I would suspect that we will be coming to you for it to be in Ards Blair Mayne and possibly sooner than that, so it’s a win-win.”