Pools could shut till

A £4.5m bill for building ‘bedevilled with flaws’

THE Olympia swimming pools in Dundee could be closed until late 2022 because the facility needs repairs worth £4.5 million.

The pools closed in October after an issue was discovered with light fittings.

It has now emerged that other work is needed – including a replacement of the flumes – meaning the facility could remain shut for more than a year.

Work is set to get under way early next year and is likely to take about 45 weeks to complete, meaning the pools will likely remain closed until late 2022.

The issues have been discovered less than a decade after the £32m facility was built.

News of the extended closure has sparked outrage among those in the local swimming community.

Dundee City Aquatics is based at the Olympia and has been drastically impacted by the closure lasting over six weeks already.

Head coach David Haig says he is shocked by the announcement.

He said: “This is far worse news than we were expecting, and a devastating blow to the swimming, diving and water polo community in Dundee and areas around who rely on the facility.

“The complex chain of events in my opinion starts with a very poorly built facility that has been rusting from almost the outset, and hugely inadequate structural maintenance.

“A three month shutdown has been promised for over three years, but never initiated.

“We run the risk in Dundee of losing a generation of athletes who will give up, walk away, and never return due to this issue.

“So far LACD have not done anything to support clubs and organisations, despite this being promised at the initial closure.

“I fear for the future of our clubs and athletes.”

Gordon Currie, president of Perth City Swim Club, said: “The latest information suggesting Olympia could be closed for a year is a devastating blow for the whole of the Tayside swimming community.

“Olympia is the central competition venue for the area, so its loss will be massively disruptive to all of the clubs who rely on it to host our Midland District galas.

“We feel especially upset for our friends at Dundee City Aquatics, who have used Olympia as their main training base since it opened.

“Having lost Perth Leisure Pool for over a year due to flooding, we know only too well ourselves how hard it is to keep going amid that level of disruption.

“Pool time is already at a premium in this area due to a lack of forward planning and investment and this second major closure in a row will have a knock-on effect for years to come.”

Councillor Michael Marra has criticised the move and has called for an independent inquiry.

He said: “Two weeks ago the leader of the SNP administration called demands for an independent inquiry ‘absurd’.

“That position has aged poorly in a very short period of time.

“Taxpayers now face a bill of in excess of £4m for a building opened only eight years ago.

“To desperately try and spin this as normal, as the SNP administration has done, today is deeply irresponsible.”

He added: “An independent inquiry is now a necessity.

“Dundee taxpayers must have the option of getting money back from the bill they paid to construct Olympia.

“This building has been bedevilled with flaws since before it even opened.

“Dundee families will be aghast.

“The Olympia is hugely popular and helps to subsidise other facilities.

“The SNP administration must outline the impact on the Leisure & Culture budget and ensure other facilities are protected from the knock-on effect.”

Mark Flynn, convener of the city development committee, said:

It has been announced that the flumes at the Olympia need to be replaced.