Swimming pools set to close for essential maintenance work from 4 July

Swimming pools set to close for essential maintenance work from 4 July

Swimmers in Abingdon are being reminded that the pools at White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre will be closed from Monday 4 July for ten weeks this summer so that essential maintenance work can take place. The rest of the facilities at the leisure centre will remain open as usual.

The work involves draining the pools, replacing tiles and grouting around the pool edges, and repairing the concrete which supports the surrounding area. This will take about eight weeks to complete, and around a further ten days to refill, heat and test the pool water. The work is taking place over the quieter summer months to minimise any disruption. The work is being organised by Vale of the White Horse District Council and will cost in the region of £415,000. The facility is 14 years old and receives more than 324,000 visits from swimmers each year. There are lots of options for anybody wanting to carry on swimming over the summer – they can use their membership to swim at any of the following ‘Better’ leisure centres in the Vale of the White Horse and South Oxfordshire, at no additional cost:

All affected swimming lessons will be transferred to Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool while the work is taking place. GLL has contacted those affected to let them know what their specific arrangements will be. Further information regarding the alternative arrangements is available on our pool maintenance FAQs , alternatively please ask at the leisure centre reception or email whitehorse@gll.org . Over the coming months White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre will also benefit from an additional £1.7 million investment, including a major extension to the existing gym area. Cllr Charlotte Dickson, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “The pools at White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre are very well used and extremely popular. However they are also 14 years old and wear and tear means we really need to act now to ensure it can last well in to the future. “There’s still plenty of places to swim throughout the summer, including outdoors at Abbey Meadow. If you’re unsure about the arrangements the staff at the leisure centre will be able to help you.” Ben Whaymand, Partnership Manager GLL, said “The work will support the centre’s long-term future, and comes at an exciting time when we are investing an additional £1.7m by extending the existing gym, introducing state-of-the-art fitness equipment and upgrading the gym changing facilities. “Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool will take over the pool programme from White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre and we’re putting on extra facilities to help cope with demand during the work.”