COUNCIL chiefs have revealed the long-delayed work to demolish the city’s former swimming pool to make way for housing could begin at the end of this year.
Following its closure in December 2016, the Sansome Walk site was made safe and secure to avoid any risk of unauthorised people entering it.
Surveys were carried out in 2017 to confirm the extent of asbestos in the building before the demolition work was put out to tender. However additional surveys in September 2018 found more asbestos than had been expected.
Work at the site has been delayed since July but in a letter to residents last Friday (January 31), council chiefs revealed work to finally raze the site to the ground had moved a step closer.
“The council is obtaining advice from construction and property consultants Gleeds and their appointed panel of experts who will ensure that the works are undertaken to the best industry standards. It is anticipated that, following the outcome of a tender process, contractors will start on site towards the end of this year,” the letter read.
“Any housing development will obviously require a planning application which will go through the normal process and residents will be consulted about this and have the opportunity to give their views.
Arboretum councillors Joy Squires and Jenny Barnes are being kept informed of all the developments, according to council bosses who revealed a meeting for local residents has been pencilled in for next month.
A £750,000 Government grant has already been awarded to the council to support the demolition work and councillors backed proposals to allocate an extra £832,000 at a meeting last July.
The historic venue, which had played host to swimming since April 1972, closed in 2017 when the city’s new £10.5million swimming pool at Perdiswell opened its doors.
