The opening of the new Glenrothes leisure centre is to be delayed following the discovery of a “serious technical defect” in its construction.
The Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre is now set to open in June two months later than planned after tiling on the pool walls was considered to be sub-standard.
The problem was discovered during final testing at the £21 million centre ahead of its scheduled opening at the end of the month.
Andy MacLellan, sports partnership manager at Fife Council, said: “We had intended to open the new facility at the end of April, but during final testing a serious technical defect with the walls around the swimming pools was identified and this needs to be rectified by the contractor before the building can be formally handed over to the council.
“Whilst we’re obviously disappointed to have encountered this unexpected delay so close to the planned opening, it’s equally important, of course, that the new facility is completed to the highest possible standards.
“We know the local community will share our disappointment and I can only apologise on behalf of all concerned for any inconvenience this delay might cause.”
Mr MacLellan is “optimistic” that the centre will open in June, but added that this will only happen if revisions to the pool wall are successful.
Councillor Ian Sloan, acting chair of Glenrothes area committee, said he hoped a resolution to the problem could be discovered quickly.
“It is very unfortunate that this issue has been discovered and we just have to hope that it can be sorted as soon as possible and that the public can start using the centre,” he said.
A spokesman for Graham Construction, the contractor building the centre, said: “We have discovered an issue with the appearance of some of the materials used on the external walls around the pool hall.”