Outdated leisure centre to get £218k in urgent repairs

AN ageing leisure centre will get more than £200,000 worth of repairs to address the risk of “falling concrete” ahead of it being replaced.

Broxtowe Borough Council’s cabinet decided this week to spend £218,000 on repairing Bramcote Leisure Centre, where unsafe RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was found late last year.

The urgent maintenance, which includes immediate replacement of the RAAC, as well as repairs to mechanical and electrical systems, will enable the centre to remain operational for a further three to five years. The 1960s building will then be replaced by a new leisure centre.

Although there is currently no sign of the concrete failing, council documents warned the centre could have to be closed due to the danger of “falling concrete and loss of building integrity” if the work was not carried out.

Speaking after councillors voted to approve the repairs, Broxtowe Borough Council leader Milan Radulovic said: “We’ve had confirmation that RAAC is in there and we have to make it safe, but we are pushing forward now with plans to build a new replacement Bramcote leisure centre.”

The urgent RAAC works will cost £49,500 and “should be instructed immediately” according to council documents.

Further works that need to be undertaken within 12 months will cost an additional £169,400.

The cabinet was told the repairs could impact the operational running of the leisure centre, with the possibility of pool closures and access to parts of the centre being restricted whilst works are undertaken.