Final bill for new Dundee pool soars by over £2m

The final bill for the pool has soared by more than £2 million. Picture: Getty

A report prepared to go before next Monday’s meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee has revealed that the additional cash had to be spent to improve the water proofing of the pool and other works at the new Olympia facility, increasing the final budget from £31.461,000 to £33.502,000.

An additional £302,000 has been spent addressing “below ground conditions and water contamination issues” and changes to the tiling grouting to deal with potential leaks.

The report by Mike Galloway, the council’s Director of City Development , states: “Initial design development and technical specification outputs did not adequately address below ground conditions and water contamination issues. As a consequence there was the requirement to amend the water proofing specification and thickness.

“The below ground conditions, once exposed, necessitated an element of re-design to address configuration complexities and specialist sub-contract package works.”

Additional money also had to spent upgrading the pool’s CCTV system and on additional poolside barriers and additional handrails to the flume access stair for child safety reasons.

Mr Galloway states: “The Director of Corporate Services has stated that the additional expenditure of approximately £2.041million can be funded from the overall allowance from the capital plan.”

The new pool finally opened in June, four months behind schedule, but has already attracted more than 100,000 visitors. The facility features a 50-metre main competition pool, a wave pool, rapid river, a dive pool and an activity pool in addition to diving boards and four flumes.

The new Olympia pool is operated by Leisure and Culture Dundee in partnership with the council. The old pool is being demolished to make way for the £45 million V&A at Dundee museum.