Date: 12/03/2010
Major improvements to a popular but out of date swimming pool started in earnest on Monday 8 March as planned.
High Peak Borough Council closed Buxton Swimming Pool in November for a much-needed facelift.
Now, contractors have set to work on installing a modern changing village plus new poolside ceiling and tiling. Essential plant and machinery is also being replaced.
The roof is being replaced and modern insulation introduced to reduce heat loss, condensation and corrosion.
The pool is scheduled to reopen before the end of June, after which a second phase will see the construction of new health and fitness facilities including a gym and group exercise studio.
Said Andrew Bingham, Executive Councillor for Social and Community Development: "These major improvements show that we and our partner, DC Leisure, are committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and giving High Peak people the first-rate facilities they have a right to expect these days.
"It's unfortunate that we weren't able to have the pool open again for Easter, as originally intended. However, we had no alternative but to revise our timescales when we came across badly corroded internal steel work and unexpected damage to the roof structure.
"Fortunately, good project management means that we'll stay within budget and that we're right on target to hit our revised deadlines", he stressed.
The major improvements follow the completion of enabling work including the demolition of partition walls, removal of some flooring, and installation of internal scaffolding.
Principal contractor is Brown's Construction, of Cheshire, while the project architect is B3 Architects, of Loughborough.