Dundee’s Olympia swimming pools could remain shut until at least December – after bosses revealed more work is needed on the venue.
The city’s biggest leisure facility has been closed since October 13, with users initially told it was down to a “lighting issue”.
The last update said the venue would stay shut until at least last Sunday (November 7) as they worked to fix that issue.
But in a statement released on Wednesday, Leisure and Culture Dundee says it will remain closed “until further notice”, with details on work that needs to take place set to go before councillors in December.
No information has been revealed on the exact nature of that work, how much it will cost or how long it will take.
A spokesperson said: “As a result of ongoing survey and investigation work, the pools at Olympia will remain closed until further notice.
“A report will be brought to the next [Dundee City Council] city development committee, on December 6, outlining next steps for planned upgrading and refurbishment works including various items of plant and equipment, also included will be the estimated closure period.
“The gym and activity studio at Olympia are currently open and this will be reviewed once the refurbishment plan is finalised.
“All bookings for the pools at Olympia have been suspended.
“Alternative public swimming access is available at other venues across the city.
“Plans are being put in place to minimise disruption to our customers including clubs, Leisureactive members and our Learn to Swim participants.
“We will be in contact with clubs, Leisureactive members and Learn to Swim participants individually about plans that affect them.
“We will provide further updates on our website and social media and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Councillor calls for more information
Local figures, such as West End councillor Fraser MacPherson, have called for more information on the works to be made public.
He said: “Obviously at this time we are awaiting the report, however I have gone back to the director of Dundee Leisure and Culture to let them know that I think it would be helpful to have a bit more detail on what’s going on.
“I am keen to get more detail on the extent of the works that are taking place and what kind of timescale the public can expect for reopening.”
On Tuesday, swimming groups and parents called for more clarity around plans to reopen the Olympia pools with reports that about 2,000 athletes are being affected by the closure.
Swimming lessons have also had to be cancelled.
Months of problems for Olympia
Wednesday’s update is the latest in a series of issues for the Olympia, following its prolonged closure due to Covid-19.
- August 13 – The reopening of the venue was delayed because of staff shortages. Bosses were unable to confirm at that time when it would welcome visitors back.
- August 19 – It was confirmed the Olympia would have a phased reopening with the leisure pool, waves, toddlers pool and dive boards available from August 21. However bosses said that people would not be able to use the river rapids or the flumes because of the ongoing staff shortages and planned maintenance.
- September 12 – It was revealed that a swimming lessons programme at the Olympia and other Leisure and Culture Dundee venues would run with a 15% reduction in capacity until at least after the October break.
- October 13 – The operator announced the closure of all pools at the Olympia, in the middle of the October school holidays, because of what it called a “technical issue”. No information was confirmed on the nature of the issue or how long the closure would last.
- October 14 – Bosses confirmed the pools would not reopen until at least October 18 and said it was down to an “unexpected lighting issue”. Contractors were due to undertake “remedial work” with plans to reopen “as soon as possible”.
- October 19 – A further update confirmed that the pools would stay shut for the remainder of the school holidays – a week longer than the October 18 date. Again, the operator called it an “ongoing lighting issue”, adding: “Contractors will start the remedial work tomorrow when we will be better placed to put a more accurate time scale on the length of the closure.”
- October 21 – Users of the pool expressed their frustration at the ongoing closure, saying it was threatening swimming competitions.
- October 28 – In a now familiar update, Leisure and Culture Dundee said the pools would stay shut until at least Halloween, saying contractors had started repair work. However, it still refused to confirm the exact nature of the problem, how long it might take to fix and how long the pools would be out of action for.
- October 29 – The Courier revealed how the pools were set to remain out of bounds until at least November 7 after receiving a further update from the operator, but again, our questions around timescales and the nature of the problems went unanswered.
- November 9 – Users of the facilities at the Olympia hit out at a lack of information over the ongoing closure, as November 7 came and went without any further update. Despite several requests, Leisure and Culture Dundee did not respond to questions about the closure.
- November 10 – The operator finally provides an update and hints that the pools are likely to remain shut for the remainder of the year – though again, specific information about timescales, costs and the nature of the work, are not addressed.
