Essential work delays the reopening of lagoon facilities at Basingstoke Aquadrome

The reopening of the lagoon and flume areas at Basingstoke Aquadrome will be delayed until autumn due to essential maintenance work.

As a result of COVID-19 restrictions and in line with the government’s roadmap, some areas of the Aquadrome, including the 25 and 20-metre swimming pool and gym facilities, have been able to reopen. However, the lagoon rapids and flumes remain closed at the current time.

Following a routine condition survey while these facilities have been out of use, essential work to protect the lagoon’s steel structure and internal and external wall panels from the high humidity in these areas has been identified that needs to be addressed now to ensure the popular facility can be enjoyed for years to come.

In-depth surveys carried out in preparation for this work to start have identified other issues with the panels that require extra measures to ensure the safety of the people carrying out the work. This includes asbestos in some older parts of the walls behind the panels that needs to be dealt with appropriately in line with Health and Safety Executive regulations. Asbestos can be found in any building which has been built prior to 2000 and is not harmful unless it is disturbed. For the safety of the contractors carrying out the structural work and those using the facility in the future, a specialist will advise on this work.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which owns Basingstoke Aquadrome building, has faced some difficulties progressing the work on the steel panels as quickly as it hoped, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic impacting on the availability of contractors and the complexity of the project.

A project to replace the ventilation system with a new more energy efficient one, upgrading the fresh air flow to meet the latest national standards, has already taken place during the period of national restrictions.

Work in the lagoon and flumes area will start shortly and these facilities are expected to reopen by the autumn. It is hoped that the 25 and 20-metre swimming pools and gym facilities will remain open while work takes place, unless it is necessary to close them for safety reasons at specific points in the work. The work will be completely isolated from any areas kept open for public use.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure Cllr Rebecca Bean said: “We know the COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone and families are keen to return to much-needed leisure activities but the safety of visitors and staff must come first so these works need to be completed before it is reopened.

“We have been working hard to appoint a contractor to undertake the work on the steel panels as soon as possible but unfortunately the pandemic has led to delays in starting. It is disappointing that we will not be able to open the lagoon and flumes as soon as COVID restrictions allow us and in time for the school holidays and I would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. Our contractors will be working as quickly as they can to complete this important work to ensure residents and visitors can enjoy high quality facilities at The Aquadrome for years to come.”

Hazel Tilbury, Chairperson of the Basingstoke and Deane Community Leisure Trust, which in partnership with Serco Leisure operates the facility on behalf of the council, said: “While it is disappointing for our customers that these facilities will not be reopening at the present time, the council team are working hard to progress this project, giving us all the best possible chance of having these popular amenities available for people to enjoy in the autumn.”