Unexpected costs to refurbish pool

Work to bring up to scratch the swimming pool at the Glendale Middle and Wooler First Schools site on Brewery Road has been ongoing for some time.

The renovation, which has meant the facility has been out of action, has meant new windows and fire-escape doors, new insulated walls, new extractor fans, refurbished walkway structures, a new boiler, upgraded heating and water treatment systems, refurbished pool steps, new LED lighting in the pool and redecorated changing rooms.

All of this, funded by the county council and the school and achieved on target, has been completed and it was hoped that the children would be swimming again this week.

However, it has been discovered that there has been movement of the pool shell which has resulted in the lining becoming detached.

The risk of the lining rupturing while the pool is in use is high. If this were to happen, all 93 tonnes of water would exit the pool taking anyone in there with it.

Initial quotes for the repairs are in the region of £20,000 and it is hoped that the community can support the school to achieve this.

County councillor for the area, Anthony Murray, said: “I hope, following the meeting, that we will all appreciate the value of a pool which is fit for purpose for our young people and everyone else in the community and that we can raise the balance of the money necessary to complete the work as soon as possible. It is in our hands to prove how valuable good education and good facilities are in our rural area.”

The meeting takes place at the school on Tuesday at 7pm.