A Greater Manchester town's main swimming pool is closed due to a national shortage of chlorine. Public swimming sessions at the pool at Castle Leisure Centre in Bury have been suspended until further notice
However swimming lessons at the centre will still go-ahead, as the council attempts to manage its dwindling supplies of sodium hypochlorite. Bury's other swimming pools - at Ramsbottom and Radcliffe - remain open as they use a different chemical.
In a statement Bury council said: "Due to a national shortage of sodium hypochlorite, we must temporarily limit swimming at Castle Leisure Centre to swimming lessons only. This means that public swimming sessions will not be available until further notice.
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"Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to replenish our supplies as quickly as possible but there is a national shortage impacting pools across the country. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.
"We will update this message as soon as we can. We will continue to offer public swimming sessions at Radcliffe pool and Ramsbottom pool as both pools use a different chemical which is not affected by supply issues at the moment.
"We will offer as many swimming opportunities as we can at both these pools but please book in advance online to avoid disappointment."
Several pools across the country have also closed due to the shortages. Industry experts say there are a number of reasons for the supply disruptions.
Speaking to the Guardian Chris Hayes, managing director for the UK's Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association, said: "Some pool chemical companies are experiencing supply chain difficulties. These can be attributed to a number of issues, including a temporarily reduced supply in the UK, a backlog coming from China’s supply chain caused by Covid, a significant fire in a US chemical plant in late 2020 and worldwide transportation issues.
"We are aware that some public pools have needed to close temporarily, and chemical suppliers will be working with these leisure facilities to look at other appropriate pool chemicals that can be used."
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