Call for criminal inquiry into ‘killer’ leisure complex failings

A criminal investigation is being called for into a troubled £17 million leisure centre after it emerged that the repair bill will top the original construction cost.

The failings at the DGONE leisure complex in Dumfries could have “killed someone”, the local council leader said yesterday.

The centre opened in 2008 but was forced to shut permanently six years later after widespread structural repairs emerged. And undiscovered problems have since seen those repair costs rise from an estimated £10 million to £19.3m.

An independent inquiry carried out by Professor John Cole, who conducted the inquiry into Edinburgh school faults, has set out widespread failings in the construction of the project.

“I’ve seen examples of the failings in DGONE in many buildings but not the collective of those failings in the same building – it’s quite a unique experience in terms of finding this extent of failings,” he said.

His findings were set out to council leaders yesterday, 0 Colin Smyth has called for an investigation including failings from both the original contractor Kier Construction and in council oversight.

Labour’s South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth now says a criminal investigation must be conducted into the scandal.

“There are lessons in the report for the local council, albeitmuchwillhavechanged since decisions were made 15 years ago, but what hasn’t changed is the fundamental fact that the building constructed by Kier and the companies they sub-contracted to was not fit for purpose,” Mr Smyth said.

“Given the scale of the repairs needed, you have to question how safe the build- ing was when it was completed and then used by the public.”

He added: “Individual councils will carry out big projects like this very rarely so as Professor Cole’s report highlights they don’t always have the expertise needed to enter into the best contract and then properly hold a huge multinational to account.”

Dumfries and Galloway Council leader Elaine Murray said it was down to Kier Construction to apologise.

“The contractor is ultimately responsible for the defects in that building and the fact that they were passed on to the public sector, to Dumfries and Galloway Council, a building which could have killed people.”

The Scottish Government and local government body Cosla are also being urged to look at what “expert support” should be provided to councils to ensure they get the best deal and aren’t “held to ransom” by big building companies, Mr Smyth added.

A council working group will now look at the lessons to be learned.