COMPLAINTS have been made about the installation of sweet vending machines at Meadowlands Swimming Pool as it goes against the practice of healthy living which the facility promotes.

Customer Nuala McDermott said she was even considering looking for an alternative swimming pool for her children as she did not agree with the policy.

'Meadowlands claim it is appealing to the majority of customers' preferences but I have never seen anything asking about our preferences,' she said.

'It may be a business but its vision and values are clearly at odds with its practice.'

In reply to Mrs McDermott's comment, duty manager at the pool which is run by Leisure Connections, Andy Barber said: 'We appreciate your strong feelings against sweet machines being added to the changing village and we agree that it does not fit in with healthy living.

'However, as a business, we have to go with what the current market is and, as with the vending machines in the reception area, we must make appeal to the majority of customers' preferences.'

A spokeswoman for Meadowlands said: 'We believe in offering choice for our users, which is what the vending machines are — they offer a variety of healthy alternatives.  

'We take our customers' feedback very seriously and when we canvassed users previously they were comfortable with the location of the machines.'

She added that given the latest feedback the vending machines had now been moved into the café area.