The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Start again’ on Olympia – swimmers
Swimmers have suggested knocking Dundee’s Olympia down and building a new leisure centre – as the costs and timescales for repairing the current building spiral.
The pools have been closed since October after a series of problems were identified.
New documents show the facilities will now be shut for repairs until October 2023 at a cost of £6.1 million – more money and a longer period than initially predicted.
The current Olympia replaced the former leisure centre, situated where the V&A is now located, in 2013 but there are already calls for a new complex due to the condition and rising costs of looking after the existing one.
David Haig from Dundee City Aquatics, the biggest swimming club in the city, said: “I seriously question potentially throwing good money after bad on a facility that is not that good anyway, with so many compromises made during construction, clearly of poor build quality, and still costing a fortune.
“There is a good argument to rebuild on a new site and make a great training/competition facility and a fantastic leisure facility for recreational swimmers in Dundee.”
The building, run by Leisure and Culture Dundee, cost more than £33m between 2011 and 2013.
The council says Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine have conspired to extend the costs and timescales of carrying out the repairs.
Mr Haig says the length of the closure is “shocking”, adding: “It will remain a challenge to continue engaging with our athletes, with the light at the end of the tunnel very far away.
“There is no competition opportunity in Dundee, which has a big impact on performance but also on pockets with the travel required.
“I fear that it will be the end of diving in Dundee, as their numbers are down to next to nothing and they are utterly demoralised.”
Dozens back the idea of closing the existing centre.
Posting on Facebook, Shan Bury said: “What a waste. The old one was so much better.”
Jane Deans posted: “Knock it down and start again. What a waste of money.”
Robyn Connor posted: “Ridiculous... having to find alternative options to take little one swimming.”
Brian Simpson added: “Would be best to knock it down and build a bigger swimming pool complex.”
Concerns have been expressed by opposition councillors, with elected members being asked to approve a contract for the works next week.
Fraser Macpherson, leader of the Lib Dem group, said: “Councillors are essentially faced with a fait accompli – increased cost, longer timescales and a ‘take it or leave it’ procurement recommendation.”