Parking costs have still not been extended to include refunds for over an hr, which being as though a session is 50 mins in the pool does not give you enough time to change, so make sure you bring change as you pay for the privilege of using the online mi permit 'convenience'. You'll also need pound coins for the lockers, and 20p pieces for the hairdryers! Changing facilities for families are very spacious, if on the rare occasion you actually manage to get one. Instead every week there are people queuing to use one whilst everyone gets cold, mainly due to the fact that the sessions are back to back so everyone is coming in and going out at the same time, there is simply not enough room to change which is ridiculous. The individual changing rooms are barely big enough for one individual, let alone for two or even three people! The pool is overcrowded at peak times, we arrived at 11.30 and purchased a session in the learner pool, were given wristbands and told we couldn't go in to change until 11.45. Then as the pool filled up at 12.05 were approached by a lifeguard and told we would have to get in the main pool with our two year old (which was full of older children) as the reception staff had issued us the wrong colour wristbands. Understandable that they have safety in mind in terms of numbers, but to be honest they fill the learner pool to the max which means it's not a particularly pleasant experience anyway as your like canned sardines with not much room to play or swim without bumping in to other people. This seems to be down to the fact that they have switched out public swims in favour of pool parties and other money making activities. I got out early to shower and grab my little ones towel, the showers are literally scalding on and off, which is an issue for an adult let alone a child! And once again, due to people coming in for the next session there were no changing rooms we waited, ended up in a single one and one of us had to wait outside whilst the other one sorted out the toddler and vice versa. People were actually arguing over the changing rooms, who had a smaller baby, who had been waiting longer.... it's ridiculous! The facilities are completely inadequate for the capacity, there are not enough to cope. There are only 4 hair dryers, and to add to the melee they have a janitor riding a machine around the changing area during swapover times sqeedgeeing the floor. There's barely room as it is! I just don't understand who designs the timetable, or rather I can see that they are doing it for maximum profit over anything else. Unfortunate because the staff are pleasant and the environment is generally speaking pleasant. But I think we'll be heading back to Maldon because the convenience of being 20 mins closer isn't worth the stressful experience every week!