Locals frustrated over delay to swimming pool works

A SOUTHSIDE group campaigning for the refurbishment of a local public swimming pool is considering mounting further protests because the project, which was scheduled for completion in September, has not yet commenced.

In February, Dublin City Council agreed to provide

?¬1.1 million towards the cost of refurbishing three municipal swimming pools in Crumlin, Coolock and Sean McDermott Street.

The council ringfenced almost

?¬492,000 for the refurbishment of the swimming pool on Windmill Road in Crumlin. The local authority said the facility would close during the summer months and estimated that the work would be completed in September of this year.

The council said the funds would be allocated to structural refurbishment works on the pool in Crumlin, to include the replacement of the existing roof, the installation of a cost saving heating system and upgrades of the dressing rooms and car park.

However, work on the pool has not yet begun.

The council told Cllr Pat Dunne (PBP) recently that it will meet local councillors on November 9 to further discuss the proposals for all three pools.

Gerry McGuigan is chairperson of the Save our Swimming Pool Group, which was established in 2010, and was partly responsible for persuading the city council to drop its former plans to close the facility in Crumlin.

He noted that hundreds of locals had taken to the streets to protest about the issue in 2010 and said they were ready to mount a renewed campaign over the failure of the council to begin the planned refurbishment works.

“There is lots of talk at the moment about going back on the streets and marching to the council offices,

? he said.

“We can’t understand why it would take so long to carry out the refurbishment.

“Locals are very concerned that there is a lack of urgency and a lack of commitment from council officials to get these projects completed. There are a lot of problems in Crumlin and many of them could be overcome if the facilities were improved for the kids.

?

Cllr Dunne told Southside People it was his understanding that since February the council had identified additional costs that would have to be incurred in the refurbishment of the swimming pool in Coolock.

He said it was unclear whether the revised cost estimates for the works on the Coolock pool would affect the amount of money that had already been approved for Crumlin.

“If the Coolock costings are running over, that potentially could have an effect on what work is carried out at Crumlin and Sean McDermott Street,

? he stated.

“I will be going into that meeting [on November 9] demanding that the half million agreed in February for the pool in Crumlin will remain intact.

?

In a written response to a motion tabled by Cllr Dunne, the South Central area manager, Sean Moloney, said the council was

“fully committed to the works to all three stand alone pools

?.

“The structural package for Coolock Swimming Pool was received on September 25, 2012,

? it was stated.

“The full pre-tender pricing package is due to be completed on November 2012.

“Sport and Leisure Services will meet with councillors from the three relevant area committees and the Arts, Culture, Leisure & Youth Affairs Strategic Policy Committee on November 9 to discuss the works further.

?