Sunderland Aquatic Centre pool to close in April to allow for repairs to be made to leaking roof

The £20million leisure centre pool has had long standing problems with the roof with reports of buckets spread around the poolside and spectator area to catch drips coming from the leaking roof.

How long will it be closed for?

Last year, it was reported that the pool will be closed for up to nine months to allow for the work to go ahead. The council has today said that a timeframe cannot be put on how long the pool will be closed, however they expect it to be fully reopened by the end of the year.

What repairs are to be made?

The work being carried about by Balfour Beatty on the Stadium Park site will include a complete replacement of the existing roof covering which is required to resolve the issues of the persistent leaks. The building firm will also carry out any other necessary work such as decorating.

How much will it cost?

The repairs being made to the £20million centre won’t cost Sunderland City Council a penny. Following the settlement reached last year between the two parties, Balfour Beatty will cover the full cost of the work.

What services will be affected?

Although the pool will be closed for the duration of the work, other areas of the site will be fully operational throughout the repairs. The gym, changing rooms, soft play and cafe will all be fully open to the public.

Ian Bradgate, Area Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said: "We will endeavour to keep the impact of the pool closure to a minimum while the rest of the centre continues to operate as normal. We are managing communications with our members to ensure they are aware of any changes that may affect them while the works are being completed.”

The council has said that the exercise studios will need to close for a short period of time during the work. Aquatic Centre users will be informed of how they might be affected by Monday 10th February.