The reopening of Hartsdown swimming pool in Margate has suffered another setback.
The pool was expected to reopen in May – more than a year after it was shut due to damage caused in Storm Eunice.
The storm in February last year resulted in roof damage at the pool building and this then “created further complex required works due to its construction.”
Work started on site in November but the need for additional interior work has pushed the reopening date back to late June.
A statement from operator Your Leisure says: “It is with regret that we announce a short additional delay to the reopening of Hartsdown Pool.
“Due to the requirement for additional interior work that has evolved the initial project scope and issues within the contractor supply chain, there will be an additional delay to the planned May reopening. The work completion timeline now points to a late June reopening.
“We sincerely apologise for the further delay, it’s news that is as disappointing to Your Leisure as it is for customers and the community. Your Leisure continues to work with our partners at Thanet District Council, structural engineers, contractors and building inspectors to ensure that these works progress and any foreseeable further delays are avoided.”
Your Leisure says affected members have had courses moved to other centres or subscription/membership frozen.
For queries contact the Customer Service Team on 03333 660661 or email CST@yourleisure.uk.com
I’ve got a sinking feeling about this 😕
Amazing how much damage a storm can cause !
Not as much as inept management
Can you explain how inept management lead to the roof being blown off in a gale?
I was referring to the amount of time it has taken to get it repaired,16 months by the time we get to the latest date, decent insurance and maintenance/repair in previous years should have achieved a reopening well before now.
The Operator (not TDC) say that “Due to the requirement for additional interior work that has evolved the initial project scope and issues within the contractor supply chain, there will be an additional delay to the planned May reopening”
Seems clear enough.
No commercial operation could ever operate on such a basis , but Leisure Force. / TDC. ( i include TDC as they own the the property and so should have had oversight on how it was run) can be as inept as they wish as there’s no semblance of running a decent well managed in a timely manner.
Margate Winter Gardens went from a scale model to grand opening in 11 months! Why is it that the Victorians/Edwardians were so more efficient than today?
Perhaps management failed to regular check the condition of the roof, before it deteriorated to an extent where it got blown off in a storm
The council will probably try and sell this off too!
I believe the issue was the specialist nature of either the works or the material needed (I can’t remember which) that has lead to the delay.. I can’t imagine anyone that works at Your Leisure would have a particular interest in their pool being shut for such a long time
I believe the reason it has taken so long was due to the materials which were used in the original construction of the roof. The pool was built in 1973 so it is highly likely that asbestos would have been used in lagging and fire-proofing the roof.
JJ the council pulled the plug
It would help if the actual workers were to turn up I live across from there and there’s hardly any builders there