Angry swimmers are demanding that the “monstrous” boom is blasted out of Poole’s town centre swimming pool.

Hundreds have signed a petition which is due to be dispatched to the head of Borough of Poole’s leisure services, calling for the Dolphin Swimming Pool’s new boom to be removed.

The £100,000 moveable barrier, which has cut the length of the pool from 33m to 25m, arrived suddenly and has incensed regular users.

Some, including Barbara Grainger of Poole who has multiple sclerosis, said: “I’m definitely never going to go there again.

“I know we are disabled but we don’t deserve to be stuck with no way of getting in and no way of swimming in clean water.”

Jessica Vogel, who has swum there three times a week for around 10 years, has been collecting signatures calling for the full length of the pool to be restored, and others are doing the same.

“I feel very strongly about it,” she said. “I care about disabled people and for some people this is their only form of exercise.”

With the shallow end now cut off, swimmers have no option but to get straight into deeper water; disabled people were being turned away because the hoist was not yet in place and the fibreglass boom was rough enough to cut the feet of those pushing off from it, she said.

Mrs Vogel, 47, of Lower Parkstone, who swims for health reasons said: “I wouldn’t have objected as much myself if they had got the new steps and hoist ready.”

Claire James, for Everyone Active, which manages the council’s three leisure centres, said the boom was aimed at improving the pool for the majority of users. She said there would be a new hoist and steps.

Cllr Neil Sorton, cabinet portfolio holder for leisure has weighed in, saying the divided pool can be used by many groups and is now able to host swimming galas.

“The positioning of inlets and outlets in the pool filtration system means water flow is not affected and we are carefully monitoring this,” he said.