More than 800 swimming pool users will be left high and dry for at least six months after excavation work at Christleton Sports Centre revealed serious faults with underground pipe work.
Excessive water leakage – around 10,000 litres weekly – forced Brio Leisure to close the pool in January and the council’s leisure operators have done everything possible to find alternative water space, particularly for those learning to swim.
But exploratory excavations to find the cause of the leaks have revealed major pipe work failure underground and the pool will now have to remain closed for a further six to eight months.
“The pool is less than ten years old and this obviously should not have happened,” said Cllr Stuart Parker, executive member, culture and economy. “Investigations are being carried out to discover the cause of the problem and we are talking to the original contractors.
“Obviously this is a situation which we could not possibly legislate for. We greatly regret the inconvenience caused to the public and will do everything we can to minimise disruption and find alternative water space for them.”
Today (Thursday, February 12), Brio Leisure staff were again contacting all swimmers affected by the extended closure either by phone or email to explain the problem and attempt to find replacement water space at the Northgate Arena, Moss Farm in Northwich, the Epic in Ellesmere Port or Neston.
Elly McFahn, managing director of Brio, said: “During the first closure spell we managed to find alternative swimming facilities within our programmes at our other pools for around 25% of Christleton swimming lessons.
“In addition, we managed to re-locate other activities like children’s parties and group activities and have given refunds to others.”
Brio are conscious that the latest phase of the re-location operation will have to be handled with care to avoid overloading the popular Northgate Arena at its busiest time of the year.
Consequently, a new series of half-hour lessons will be introduced at the Northgate, firstly at the weekend and then during the week and Christleton staff will be transferred to the Northgate to help chaperone parents and youngsters around the building with minimum disruption.
Visits from local school parties were cancelled during the first period of closure but schools are to be contacted again in the hope of making alternative arrangements until August.
Leisure membership holders are able to use all of the Brio pool locations as part of their package during this period.
The remainder of the facilities at Christleton Sports Centre, which is next door to Christleton High School, will remain open to the public and staff there are available by phone for any further enquiries on 01244 336664.
