COUNCIL SWIMMING pools in Dunfermline will be closed next week for “further essential improvement works”, a year after a multi-million-pound upgrade.
Carnegie Leisure Centre reopened in February last year following a facelift which took three years to complete, with the pools reopening 12 months behind schedule.
The project was originally expected to cost £6.5 million but a council report released last month revealed a £2.4m overspend “due to an ongoing dispute with the contractor”.
The latest pool closure will begin on Monday.
A spokeswoman for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust said: “The main and children’s pool will be subject to closure for five days in order to allow further essential improvement works and end-of-year defects to be carried out by the building contractor. This includes some minor repairs that were not undertaken previously due to unforeseen circumstances.
“The health suite will also be subject to works and will be closed from Monday January 14 until Wednesday January 16, between the hours of 7am and 9pm.”
She added: “Fife Sports and Leisure Trust apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Fife Council’s executive committee was told of the latest project overspend at a meeting last month.
The report put before councillors said: “An overspend of £2.421m is currently projected on Carnegie Leisure Centre due to an ongoing dispute with the contractor, however, the final out-turn will be contained within the overall resource envelope.”
The refurbishment saw a range of improvements, including a new 25-metre pool with moveable floor, an upgraded entrance and reception area with pool views and new caf, as well as two purpose-built aerobic studios and a climbing wall.
The local authority’s head of leisure and cultural services Grant Ward could not put a final figure on the cost of the project yesterday.
He said: “We’re still in the process of concluding final costs for the refurbishment of Carnegie Leisure Centre, as is normal for a major capital project of this scale and complexity.
“Discussions are continuing with Barr Construction, with a view to reaching agreement on the final account as soon as practicable.”
Mr Ward added: “The project has incurred unanticipated and unavoidable additional costs due to the discovery of extensive dry and wet rot in the original Edwardian part of the building and the impact of two successive severe winters.”
pswindon@thecourier.co.uk