Swimming pool building repair costs over budget

Repairs to a swimming pool building are set to cost a council £450,000 more than the initial estimate.

North Yorkshire Council originally budgeted £1.2m for the work to the Richmond Swimming Pool ceiling, but according to a report more money is needed to complete the repairs.

According to the report for the council's executive committee, the extra funding will come from the council's property maintenance budget.

Richmond councillor, Stuart Parsons, welcomed the commitment of extra funding to the project but said it was "worrying for the future of North Yorkshire that it seems they don't seem to be able to do their calculations correctly".

He added: "God knows what we're going to be spending money on elsewhere."

The pool was forced to close in April last year following a partial ceiling collapse. The repair work was delayed by the discovery of asbestos in the building, which had to be removed.

Earlier this year, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for leisure, Simon Myers, said the council was committed to protecting the long-term future of its pools by carrying out vital repairs.

He said: "These repairs must be carried out correctly and to a high standard, so that our customers can continue to enjoy the swimming pools and the facility remains a valued part of the town's fabric.

"We are all looking forward to it reopening when it is safe to do so."

The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the work remained on track to be completed by the autumn.

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