Swimmers frustrated at Cannock pool repair delays
Swimmers today spoke of their growing frustration at the delays behind the opening of the refurbished pool at Cannock Chase Leisure Centre.
Repair work still needs to be completed on the pool, five months after it was supposed to open in August. The chairman of Chase Swimming Club, Dawn Baker, today said the delays have been "incredibly frustrating" for members.
Swimming lessons had to be relocated to Rugeley and Walsall while repair work was carried out, after the pool closed in April 2011.
The 37-year-old from Pelsall said: "It's been a huge problem for us. We used to hold one session a week at the leisure centre. Finding pool time elsewhere has been really difficult.
"We've been holding sessions at Walsall baths but we've only got two lanes when we go here. We are limited to how many can come."
Mrs Baker's club currently has around 200 senior and junior members.
The club held a meeting with the council in July last year to discuss when the pool would open but has not heard anything since, she added.
"We've had no contact at all from the council," she said. "We've no idea what the problem is."
The 25-metre pool was supposed to open on August 8, but cracks were found in tiles.
Cannock Chase Council said the tiling is now complete, but work still has to be completed around the pool area before it can be heated to operating temperatures. The local authority has also warned if any work is not done properly it will have to be re-done.
Councillor Christine Mitchell, culture and sport boss, said she "shared the frustration of local people" over the delays and staff were working to get things sorted as soon as possible.
