City council takes legal action over repairs to flagship aquatic centre

Sunderland City Council has issued legal proceedings over remedial works needed for the area’s aquatic centre, which is home to the only 50m pool in the North East.

The local authority said it was looking to close the centre next year, “to allow substantial repairs and remedial work to be carried out to the roof of the swimming pool area”.

The council added that the works were required to remedy problems with condensation and leaks, and would take six to nine months to complete. The centre opened in 2008.

Some dry- side facilities such as the gym and changing areas are expected to remain in use.

Cabinet Secretary Cllr Mel Speding, said: “Much as we don’t want to close the pool at the Aquatic Centre for any length of time it is essential that this happens at some point in 2018 to allow the structural repairs that are needed to go ahead.

“We very much recognise that Sunderland Aquatic Centre is not only an asset for the city but for the region as a whole which is why we have agreed to commission this remedial work so we can get the pool back up and running as soon as possible.”

He added: “There’s never going to be a good time to carry out this kind of work but we will be working with our partners Everyone Active, who manage the city’s sports and leisure facilities on our behalf, to minimise the impact on users as much as much as we possibly can.”