Specialist tests on all three swimming pools at Alfreton, Ripley and Heanor have now been completed and a programme of works has been agreed with the main building contractor that will now see the pools at Heanor and Ripley opening in January 2009 and Alfreton in February 2009.
Councillor Norman Bull, Cabinet Member for Well-Being at Amber Valley Borough Council said: “The Borough Council and DC Leisure are fully committed to providing premium quality sport and leisure facilities for the residents of Amber Valley. For this reason, in November 2007 we demanded that further testing was undertaken on the swimming pools at all three of the Borough’s new leisure centres, in order that we could be fully satisfied that they had been constructed to the exacting standards set out in the original project agreement.
“We appreciate that this further delay will be frustrating for pool users, and we share their disappointment that the new pools weren’t able to open alongside all the other fantastic facilities at the new leisure centres. However we hope people will also recognise the need to ensure that the building works are completed to the highest possible standard, and that we accept nothing less. Our aim is to provide outstanding facilities that will continue to benefit the local community for many years to come, and we are therefore simply not prepared to compromise on quality.”
Once the agreed additional works are completed there will be a final test to ensure that the pools meet the Council’s requirements. In the meantime we have taken steps to ensure the existing pools at Ripley and Heanor remain open for public, school and club use during the extended construction works.
Ends.
News release issued by Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, telephone 01773 841655.
DC Leisure working in partnership with Amber Valley Borough Council.
