Council give update on repair work on Sunderland Aquatic Centre roof

Roof repairs at Sunderland Aquatic Centre are ongoing and are likely to take the rest of this year.

placeholder image — Roof repairs at Sunderland Aquatic Centre are ongoing and are likely to take the rest of this year.

Checks are being made to ensure repair work at Sunderland’s landmark swimming pool is up to standard as efforts continue to patch up its leaking roof.

The work at Sunderland Aquatic Centre began in April and continued during the lockdown, with Sunderland City Council warning customers it could put access to its Olympic pool out of bounds for between six and nine months.

The programme was scheduled following an out of court settlement between the council and Balfour Beatty, which built the Stadium Park complex for £20 million 12 years ago.

The leaks meant buckets were used on the concourse around the pool were used to collect the drips, with swimming classes and the city's swimming club moved to other venues across Wearside during the closure, which had been planned before the coronavirus lockdown led to the closure of the centre in March, when leisure venues were shut down by the Government in a bid to halt the spread of the illness.

The construction firm is carrying out the work, with the authority overseeing the repairs “in conjunction with consultant support.”

Now the council has confirmed it estimates it will be complete within eight months, with the work on schedule to finish in November, leaving swimmers without access to its biggest indoor stretch of water for most of the year.

It previously said it could not put a timeframe on the work, but said it expected the pool to be open by the end of the year.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Roof works at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre are underway.

Scaffolding has been put up around Sunderland Aquatic Centre to help workers repair its leaking roof.

“Work to the roof above the studios is ongoing but they will need to remain closed until it is complete.

"Facilities are being brought back into use as soon as possible.”

While the gym has reopened to customers following an easing of the lockdown rules, the council has said the soft play area will remain close until the Government lifts restrictions further.

When asked if any improvements were being made to the toilets and their plumbing system or upgrade the hairdryers, the council said: “These are not part of the council roof works programme.”