COUNCIL chiefs have revealed work to demolish the city’s former swimming pool will take longer than planned after experts discovered more asbestos than expected in the derelict building and among rubble on the site.
Work to raze Sansome Walk swimming pool to the ground has been halted after surveys were carried out on the building which closed its doors in December 2016 just days before a new state-of-the art swimming pool opened its doors at as part of the £10.5million revamp of Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
Council chiefs agreed the sale of the site to Sanctuary Housing and YMCA Worcestershire in March and plans were revealed to convert the site into 22 two-bedroom shared-ownership homes to help Worcester residents get a foot on the housing ladder.
Alongside them, the YMCA will create 76 accommodation units for 18-35 year-olds, a business hub, with facilities for people starting their own businesses, the self-employed and home workers, plus a communal enterprise space for meetings, job coaching, support and mentoring.
Councillors backed plans to demolish the former swimming pool in January 2017 after concerns the derelict site would become a target for vandals and tresspasers.
But in a letter to local residents, Andrew Round, Corporate Director Place at Worcester City Council work had stopped while investigations into the presence of the harmful material continued.
“Our contractor has now completed a number of surveys of the fabric of the building to confirm as far as possible the extent of asbestos-containing materials used in its construction,” he said.
“This is so the demolition can be planned in such a way as to minimise the risk of workers on the site and other people being exposed to asbestos.
As well as a report to the council, the Health and Safety Executive has also been informed.
“The council is commissioning more investigations in the coming weeks across the wider site to define the extent of this. Demolition equipment currently on site will be removed during this period,” Mr Round added.
Work will be carried out to ensure there is no risk to local residents living close to the site.
