Frustration as Wednesbury Leisure Centre to be shut until 2014

It has been 11 months since the High Bullen pool was first closed for routine maintenance work. Workers discovered it had developed concrete problems and would have to stay closed. Though Sandwell Council is trying to fast-track a replacement, it has today been revealed it would take at least 12 months to build, as well as time to first clear the site.

Sylvia Davis, who runs Slim4Good slimming club, has already had to move its meetings to the Wesley Centre in Spring Head due to the closure.

She said: "It's frustrating it's closed. We were there from 2006 and we're only a small business so for us re-locating meant the loss of a few members."

Graham Golcher, president of Wednesbury Rotary Society, and a Church Hill resident for around 30 years, added: "It is a loss for people, but unfortunately I don't think the council can do anything about it. We will have to grin and bear it.

Tender

"I think people think the council is doing its best and knows what it's doing."

Councillor Steve Eling, the borough's finance boss, said the council had already saved time on a replacement as it did not have to tender for a firm to demolish the centre, as it has an ongoing deal with Coleman & Company.

That means procurement for a firm to build the pool can be completed while the centre is being demolished, cutting the amount of time facilities have to close.

The authority will meanwhile use a similar design to the new pool being built in Tipton to save money.

Councillor Eling said: "We will keep existing facilities open for as long as possible as we don't want to close anything until we absolutely need to. Even in these grim times, we've kept money on one side for this so despite cuts, this is guaranteed."