Peterborough Regional Pool: 'Make do and mend' approach needed, says MP

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow says the council should spend money to make the Regional Pool safe enough to reopen.

It has been closed since September after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found.

It had already been closed several times because of the discovery of legionella and asbestos.

Councillors have previously said it could cost £10m-£15m to do sufficient repairs and have indicated it may never reopen.

The site on Bishop's Road is on Peterborough City Council's list of assets that it is considering selling, to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on 12 February.

Conservative MP Mr Bristow said the council needed to "make do and mend, spend a bit of money making it safe".

He added it would then "focus their efforts to go out and get the money, with my support, for a brand new swimming pool for Peterborough".

His comments have been criticised by Labour's Andrew Pakes, who is the party's candidate for Peterborough at the next general election.

He has led calls for a "swimming summit" to draw up plans for a new pool and provide interim facilities. He said that more than 1,000 people have signed a "save our pool" petition.

"We can't make do and mend something that has been run down so badly by the Tories locally, without spending an incredible amount of taxpayers' money," he said.

He added the money would "be better spent building a new, world-class, 50-metre pool along with all the facilities residents should expect".

The council have been approached for comment.

Deputy leader John Howard, from the Peterborough First group, has previously said the Regional Pool could be shut for good because of the cost of repairs.

The council was run by the Conservatives until November, when the Tories were ousted by a coalition led by Peterborough First, which features a number of Conservative defectors.

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