Swimmers have suggested knocking Dundee’s Olympia down and building a new leisure centre – as the costs and timescales for repairing the current building spiral.
The pools have been closed since October after a series of problems were identified.
New documents show the facilities will now be shut for repairs until October 2023 at a cost of £6.1 million – more money and a longer period than initially predicted.
The current Olympia replaced the former leisure centre, situated where the V&A is now located, in 2013 – but there are already calls for a new facility due to the condition and rising costs of looking after the existing one.
David Haig, from Dundee City Aquatics – the biggest swimming club in the city – said: “I seriously question potentially throwing good money after bad on a facility that is not that good anyway, with so many compromises made during construction, clearly of poor build quality, and still costing a fortune.
“There is a good argument to rebuild on a new site and make a great training/competition facility and a fantastic leisure facility for recreational swimmers in Dundee.”
The building, run by Leisure and Culture Dundee, cost more than £33m between 2011 and 2013.
The council says that Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine have conspired to extend the costs and timescales of carrying out the repairs.
Divers left ‘demoralised’ at lack of facilities
Mr Haig says the length of the closure is “shocking”, adding: “It will remain a challenge to continue engaging with our athletes, with the light at the end of the tunnel very far away.
“There is no competition opportunity in Dundee, which has a big impact on performance but also on pockets with the travel required.
“I fear that it will be the end of diving in Dundee, as their numbers are down to next to nothing and they are utterly demoralised.”
How have members of the public reacted?
Dozens of readers of The Courier and Evening Telegraph back the idea of closing the existing centre.
Posting on Facebook, Shan Bury said: “What a waste. The old one was so much better.”
Jane Deans posted: “Knock it down and start again. What a waste of money.”
Robyn Connor posted: “Ridiculous… having to find alternative options to take little one swimming.
“Never should have shut down the old one, never had these many issues.”
Pierre Bernard said: “Time for Dundee City Council to cut their losses with this.
“The competition pool is not fit for purpose… the fun pool is not much fun so shut it down and rebuild and make a swimming facility the city can be proud of.”
Brian Simpson added: “Would be best to knock it down and build a bigger swimming pool complex.
“The pool is too small for a big city. I’m sure the old swimming pool was bigger.”
Several have also called for a public inquiry into the original construction project – and want answers on who is responsible for the debacle.
‘Councillors are faced with a fait accompli’
Concerns have been expressed by opposition councillors, with elected members being asked to approve a contract for the works next week.
Fraser Macpherson, leader of the Lib Dem group, said: “Councillors are essentially faced with a fait accompli – increased cost, longer timescales and a ‘take it or leave it’ procurement recommendation.
“This is all very concerning indeed and not good news for Olympia customers or the Dundee council taxpayer.”
Kevin Keenan, leader of the Labour group, said: “I want to know the worth of the pool currently and the worth once a further £6m has been spent on it.
“I want to be reassured that this level of spend makes sense, or would we be better writing it off at this stage before we spend any more on it?”
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