Pool shut until March as glass roof replaced

A SWIMMING pool is to remain closed until March while all the roof glass is replaced, after a pane fell out of the ceiling and hit a swimmer.

The pool at Warrender Swim Centre in Marchmont was closed in November after the incident which left the swimmer with an injured arm. The gym section of the centre reopened a month later, but the pool has stayed closed.

It has now been confirmed that the council-owned baths in Thirlestane Road will remain shut for a further two months while all the roof glass is replaced with special panes.

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh Leisure said: "We are having the work undertaken to ensure that any risk is removed. It's simply a case that the glass itself needs to be manufactured, so that's what's taking a bit of time. We are doing everything we can to speed up the process as much as possible."

A spokeswoman said that as putting up scaffolding inside the baths was a major part of the cost, it was decided to take the opportunity to replace the entire glass roof: "It was considered prudent and cost-effective to take this opportunity to replace the structure as there is little difference in cost between replacing just the glass and the whole rooflight. Work will commence once the replacement rooflight has been manufactured and is due for completion in the spring.

"Costs are still being finalised for the works and will be met by the council. The rooflight glass is believed to be approximately 20 years old."

However, there has been criticism over the lengthy closure at the Victorian swimming pool, at a time when two other pools in the city are already closed for renovation.

Edinburgh South MP Nigel Griffiths said: "The Commonwealth Pool and the Glenogle Baths are closed already and the public are now losing another facility, as well as Edinburgh Leisure losing the income. The council have been dithering. It's absolutely not on. If ever there was a case for the council pulling out all the stops, then this is it. The loss of this facility for up to six months is quite unacceptable."

Meadows/Morningside Councillor Paul Godzik said: "A great number of constituents have been in touch with regards to this, and clearly the situation needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. It's an extremely popular venue and we want to see it open as soon as it possibly can."

Glenogle swim centre is undergoing renovation and is due to reopen this summer, while the Royal Commonwealth Pool closed in June for a major, two-year refurbishment.