SWIMMING POOL SHUTS AGAIN AFTER LEAK IS FOUND IN PIPES
‘Significant water loss’ adds to problems
A LEISURE centre swimming pool had to be closed due to a leak just two weeks after reopening – as problems continue to plague the building nearly nine years after it was built.
The main pool at Jubilee 2 in Newcastle was shut on August 18 after a ‘significant loss of water’, now known to be due to fractured pipes.
Repairs are expected to be completed later this month, with investigatory works also being carried out around the pool hall. The smaller teaching pool remains open.
Lane swimming sessions had only restarted on August 3, following the building’s Covid-19 shutdown.
This is the latest issue to hit the leisure centre since construction was completed in December 2011.
Other problems have included a leaking roof – which has still not been completely fixed despite extensive works being carried out by contractor Morgan Sindall – and leaks to the centre’s aqua sauna.
Leaders at Newcastle Borough Council, which owns and operates Jubilee 2, are now set to commission a survey to identify further problems there might be with the building.
A report to cabinet says that the swimming pool leak has ‘understandably undermined cabinet’s confidence that further defects in the building remain, but have yet to manifest themselves’.
Under the terms of its contract, Morgan Sindall has been required to rectify the problems with the leisure centre, at its own expense.
Councillor Jill Waring, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and heritage, said: “It is disappointing that there are continuing issues with Jubilee 2, but we are doing everything that can be done. We are hoping that we will be able to reopen the pool before the end of October. On a more positive note, the teaching pool and the gym are still open at Jubilee 2.
“Morgan Sindall have been paying for these works, and they have been working very well with our officers.”
The centre’s roof has been leaking since it opened, and staff have sometimes had to resort to placing buckets to catch dripping rainwater.
In February, Morgan Sindall carried out an inspection of the roof. According to the cabinet report, this identified ‘a significant number of issues that needed to be addressed due to poor workmanship’ or inadequate building materials.
Works since then have included relining the rainwater gutters, installing an extra waterproof membrane, and increasing the size of the rainwater hoppers.
These works were completed last month, but the report says that some leaks persist. Morgan Sindall says it will work to address these issues.
A previous problem with the centre’s aqua sauna, which was leaking into the ground floor changing rooms, has been resolved. But the council now plans to replace the sauna with a pilates studio.
Under the building contract, Morgan Sindall is obliged to address ‘latent defects’ for a period of 12 years, which is set to expire in December 2023. But Ms Waring believes that the company will continue to carry out necessary repairs beyond this date.
A spokesman for Morgan Sindall
Construction said: “Having already rectified several issues at the Jubilee 2 leisure centre, we remain committed to working with our customer to resolve any further defects that are our responsibility.”