Closure of Shrewsbury's main swimming pool extended by three weeks

The pool at the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre in Priory Road, closed on December 29 after a glass panel, which came from the staircase, shattered and broken glass entered the pool.

While the centre’s other pools were unaffected, the main 33-metre long pool was closed to the public as it has to be completely drained for the massive clean-up operation to take place.

Pool managers Serco were concerned that even though large shards of glass could be removed from the poolside and the bottom of the pool by local scuba divers, smaller splinters of glass could have entered the pool’s filtration system.

The pool was supposed to reopen to the public next Monday, but now the closure has been extended by up to three weeks.

This means the main pool will have been closed for almost nine weeks in total while extra work to the ceiling, roof space, glazing and diving board platform is carried out.

Peter Davis, Shropshire Council’s leisure services manager, said Shropshire Community Leisure Trust and the council have completed a "more detailed evaluation of work that is required in the pool hall".

“Whilst the Quarry Pool has been closed following the incident on 29 December 2017, both the operator Shropshire Community Leisure Trust and Shropshire Council have taken the opportunity to undertake a more detailed evaluation of work that is required in the pool hall," he added.

"The work required to the ceiling, roof space, glazing and diving board platform is far easier and quicker to complete with the pool itself being empty.

"As a result there will be a delay to the reopening of the pool of up to three weeks.

"It is unfortunate that the reopening of the pool has been delayed; however, we felt it better to complete all necessary work at this time, to avoid any further closures later in the year.

"The number one priority is for the health and safety of the users of the facility, hence the need to ensure the work is completed satisfactorily.

"We are hoping the pool will now reopen by Monday 26 February at the latest, which will include the re-instatement of another diving board.

"Staff at The Quarry swimming centre will keep all users up to date and continue to accommodate as many swimmers and groups as possible in the remaining three pools."