TECHNOLOGY issues are creating "barriers" to many people accessing a council's leisure centres, critics have warned.
Since re-opening after lockdown, Belfast City Council requires all exercise sessions at its facilities to be pre-booked.
However, there have been complaints from users trying to return to fitness as Covid-19 restrictions lift that the complex online booking system is effectively "forcing" them to the Better app of its operator GGL.
A huge range of issues with this app has seen its ratings on app stores (where users can download the systems onto smart phones and tablets) has led to a rating of just 1.8 stars out of a possible five and a litany of complaints.
At Belfast leisure centres specifically there have been complaints of swimming sessions shown to be full when they are not and families forced to book into unsuitable pools - despite the one they required being empty (or almost empty) of other swimmers.
People Before Profit councillor Matthew Collins said the booking problems are simply the latest in " a litany of grievances" which has been caused by the outsourcing of leisure centres.
"I'm concerned that moving bookings online is a money saving exercise which leads to a deterioration in services," he said.
"I am particularly concerned for elderly services users not used to the internet, or those who may not have access to the technology to book.
"They should not have to face barriers when accessing local facilities."
The council said the booking system is "part of a range of new temporary measures to help keep customers safe in response to Covid-19" which, it insists, "has helped minimise numbers congregating at reception areas, enabled staggered access to centres at ten-minute intervals and helped to manage overall numbers within our centres".
"It also means that our centres are able to assist PHA's contact tracing service," a spokesman said.
"In order to ensure that online booking does not exclude anyone from using our facilities, GLL staff are on-hand at centres to help people who need assistance."
He said in-person cash payments at centres will return "in the near future" and appealed for customers "to turn up for these activities, or to cancel if they are unable to attend".
