Ilkley Lido repair works cost to rise by more than £600,000 - taking total spend over £1m

The cost of repair works to Ilkley Lido are expected to rise by £655,000, and the facility is unlikely to open until Spring at the earliest.
Cooling off at Ilkley LidoCooling off at Ilkley Lido
Cooling off at Ilkley Lido

Last November, Bradford Council approved £460,000 spending on the popular attraction to improve the pool tank.

But at a meeting of the Council’s Executive on Monday (Nov 9), members will be asked to approve extra spending for the refurbishment works.

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They will hear that “unforeseen circumstances that have arisen during excavation works” will mean an extra £330,000 to re-instate the hand rail and re-enforce the structure of the deep end wall.

Cooling off at Ilkley LidoCooling off at Ilkley Lido
Cooling off at Ilkley Lido

And an extra £322,000 will be spent on a new filtration system after initial works discovered the existing system was “not fit for purpose.”

The pool did not re-open when lockdown restrictions were eased in July, with the council continuing with the tank works.

The outdoor pool was then due to re-open in September. But the Council then announced that tiles in the pool were lifting, which could pose a danger to swimmers, and that the opening would need to be postponed.

It is now hoped that the pool can re-open in Spring.

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A report to the Executive Committee, meeting online on Monday, provides more detail of the unexpected problems that have blighted the refurbishment project.

It says: “Due to unforeseen circumstances that have arisen during excavation works, a further £0.333m is required to re-instate the hand rail and re-enforce the structure of the deep end wall. Although surveys were completed prior to starting the project it was not until the work had started, and concrete removed from the deep end that the scale of the issues were identified. Also as the building is Grade II listed the hand rail has to be reinstated as part of the renovation.

“Following extensive excavation work as part of the renovation, it was noted that the existing pipe work and filtration system was not fit for purpose. This was not included in the original scheme but it is an ideal opportunity to install the new system.

“There are additional extensive ground works required to install the system and replacing the system whilst the current works are underway would save on these costs.

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“Also if we were to delay the installation, it could potentially close down the lido for another season, costing Bradford Council in excess of £0.2m income. The cost of installing the balance tank and pipe work is £0.322m.

“The total cost of both projects is £0.655m and the works are required to enable the Lido to open in 2021. Both items are a health and safety necessity, to allow the safe use for customers and the safe operation for staff. The overspend will be mitigated at year end by the additional contingency that was set aside in the 2020-21 Quarter 1 Finance Position Statement for future budget requests within the Capital Investment Plan.”

Work on the indoor pool in Ilkley is continuing alongside work on the Lido.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive for Healthy People and Places, said: “We know that people will be disappointed that Ilkley Pool is going to remain closed for some time but we have to carry out this work to ensure the pool is safe for swimmers.

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“We will update our members and customers when we have more information on reopening plans in the Spring.”

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