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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Conor Gogarty

Pontardawe swimming pool is closed immediately after potentially dangerous defects are found

Pontardawe Swimming Pool is expected to be closed for about two months after engineers found "defects" in the building. The problems relate to a "void" around the training pool and columns under spectator seating.

A Neath Port Talbot Council spokesperson said the pool at King George V Park had shut and could re-open by the end of January. They added: "An inspection of the condition of the pool building by consulting engineers Ove Arup & Partners has identified defects particularly in columns beneath the spectator seating area around the main pool and in a void around the training pool."

The engineers found that the site, which was built in 1974, required "immediate" repairs. A report will be put to members of the council cabinet on Wednesday requesting approval to fund a propping programme "with a view to re-opening the facility by the end of January, 2023", said the spokesperson.

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The pool has been managed by not-for-profit trust Celtic Leisure since 2002 but control is due to transfer to the council by next April. The council spokesperson described the temporary closure as a "joint" decision by Celtic Leisure and the council. A message on the Celtic Leisure website reads: "Due to essential maintenance work at Pontardawe Swimming Pool the facility will close immediately for a period of two months."

Celtic Leisure chief executive Richard Lewis said: “We are sorry for the temporary loss of this popular and well-used pool but the condition survey meant we had to act quickly. The recommended propping work at the pool demonstrates a considerable commitment to ensuring the pool continues to provide a swimming facility for the people of Pontardawe. We look forward to welcoming our many users back to the pool early in 2023.”

You can read more of the latest news from Neath Port Talbot here. For the latest breaking news across Wales visit our homepage.

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