Leaking pool faces longer closure

BOSSES at a Suffolk leisure centre have warned its swimming pool could be closed for another week after a major water pipe burst.

The bill for the enforced closure at Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury, will run into thousands of pounds.

And staff at the South Suffolk Leisure Trust, which runs the centre, are still unable to give any clear assurances as to when normal service might be resumed.

Mick Packer, managing director of the trust, said they were aiming to reopen by the end of the week, although it could be next week.

He said: “We know that a pipe has just burst and sprung a major leak but we don't know what caused the burst.

“The whole pool area is still very messy and there has been a lot of damage caused by water. It is frustrating at the moment and disappointing that we have to keep turning people away.”

The trust took over the running of the leisure centre in April and immediately paid for a £150,000 refit of the gym and improvements to the pool.

But Mr Packer said he hoped insurers would cover the costs of the flood - estimating it would run into thousands of pounds at a time when an average 3,500 people would use the pool every week.

The centre was closed on August 19 after staff discovered water was leaking from the pool.

Contractors then drained a large amount of the pool water and found the cause of the leak to be a split water pipe.

The leak has meant the closure of the six-lane, 25-metre pool, flume rides, wave machines and timetabled activities.

Mr Packer added: “After the weekend, we were able to get pumps removed and fix motors which got wet.

“But we are now just sitting and waiting and we will be meeting with contractors.

“Fortunately we have had a very good response from the public. The priority is now to get the pool up and running again as soon as possible.”