Anger at pool closure

further investigations.

“During a recent temporary closure which began last week to initially replace, repair and deep clean the pools, Active Stirling and specialist pool contractors uncovered a significant failure in the concrete screed layer of the main pool.

“These issues now mean that instead of the pool being closed for five weeks to allow the planned programme of maintenance to take place, the pools are likely to be closed until March 2019 based on the significant amount of work now required.

“We apologise to all users of the swimming pools at The Peak for the inconvenience and we are currently working to re–provision as much of the learn–to–swim programme and recreational swimming as we possibly can. We will provide further information in due course when it is available.”

Angry parents had already voiced concerns over the planned five-week closure and how that would impact on direct debits towards children’s swimming lessons.

One furious mum, who has two children who are learning to swim at The Peak, claims she has been left out of pocket after a change to the terms and conditions of the direct debit altered earlier this year, blocking her from getting refunds when the pool is closed.

Following the announcement of the impending closure, she said: “I think we will be cancelling our direct debit now and looking to go elsewhere.

“We won’t be paying direct debits until March when the kids won’t be getting lessons.”

During what was supposed to be a five–week programme of repairs, Active Stirling had come to an agreement that would see children over the age of five on the Learn to Swim programme gain access to the pool at Stirling University and McLaren Leisure Centre in Callander. Children under the age of five accompanied by an adult would have gone free. However, there are parking charges at Stirling University’s swimming pool.

In February 2017, the ice rink at the leisure centre was closed for a fortnight because of a piping problem.

In August 2016 an electrical fault forced The Peak to close for a number of days.

Cracks in a wall of the ice rink at the sports complex were discovered in October 2014.

An investigation was launched after a chemical leak in January 2014.

It was discovered that a small quantity of ammonia had leaked and blown into the swimming pool air vent.