Future of Peterborough Regional Pool still in doubt

The future of Peterborough's main swimming pool remains in doubt, with no firm plans on reopening it.

Peterborough City Council said there was "no update" on the Vivacity Regional Fitness and Indoor Swimming Centre, known as the Regional Pool, which has been shut since September.

It was initially closed because of asbestos, then crumbling concrete was found after further checks.

The issue is likely to be debated by councillors later this month.

Peterborough Labour, which plans to raise it as an issue at the full council meeting on 24 January, said the Regional Pool may never reopen.

The party claimed it would cost the council upwards of £10-15m to address its issues, which it said also included a cracked roof. 

The city's Conservative party, which controlled the authority in September, said it was in the process of commissioning a new pool with a private sector partner when the report laying out the costs was shown to councillors. 

But the council is now led by Mohammed Farooq of the group Peterborough First, with the support of other parties. He has been contacted for comment. 

Last year, a new temporary car park was installed at the pool after part of its original car park was lost to a new ARU Peterborough university building.

Since then it has closed multiple times due to concerns over Legionella bacteria, asbestos and the crumbling concrete Raac, with its most recent closure beginning on 14 September.

The pool, on Bishop's Road, was operated by Vivacity, itself operated by Peterborough Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the council.

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