Still no word on Glenalbyn pool’s future

ANGER is mounting over delays in reopening Glenalbyn swimming pool in Stillorgan.

A recent public meeting, which was called by Independent TD Shane Ross and Cllr Deirdre Donnelly, heard that a protest march to the council’s offices would be held in September if progress was not made on the issue.

More than 350 local people attended the meeting to express their frustration at the unexplained delay in the reopening of the facility.

In a statement to Southside People, Deputy Ross said:

“The people of Stillorgan and the surrounding area have made it crystal clear that they are sick of waiting for the reopening of the Glenalbyn swimming pool. We want the pool reopened on the same site at an early date.

?

Mr Ross said that despite consultants being brought in to examine options, no explanation has been offered for the 18 month delay.

“Nothing is now due to occur at council level until September,

? he added.

“At that stage we are promised a council decision. Expect further postponements at that council meeting when they decide to examine alternative sites – another delaying device.

“The snail’s pace being taken by the council and many councillors make it blindingly obvious that there is an agenda in some quarters to close down the pool in Glenalbyn. Every day that goes by means that the condition of the pool deteriorates further.

?

Deputy Ross said it was

“unforgivable

? to allow the staff of Glenalbyn to be left in limbo.

“It is wrong to force parents of young children to drive miles to the nearest pool or even to force children to give up swimming, as has happened in this case,

? he continued.

“Nor is the argument that the Stillorgan area has an aging population anything more than an insult to the over fifties.

?

Deputy Ross revealed that preparations for a protest march to the council’s offices in September were already underway.

A spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said the decision to close Glenalbyn was not taken lightly and followed the receipt of a report from Horgan Lynch, consulting structural engineers, which found significant evidence of failures in the roof integrity over the years, in addition to loose or repaired fibreglass panels.

“The roof structure is likely to fail at any time as a result of high wind causing panels to come loose and be removed from the structure,

? a section of the report reads.

“This is likely to lead to progressive failure of the roof, potentially leading to its complete collapse. This risk must be managed to ensure the safety of all building users.

?

The spokesperson said that having received this report, the council had no option but to close the premises in the interest of public safety.

He explained that following the closure of the facility, the council commissioned a Needs Analysis Report to assess whether there was sufficient demand for a fourth public pool/leisure facility in the county. Based on its findings,

?¬10m was set aside for the construction of a new facility comprising a 25m pool and gym on the Glenalbyn site.

The council then proceeded to assess the business case for the pool, which it says is normal practice with large building projects. This was presented to the council in February of this year and the elected members resolved to establish a working group to investigate the most appropriate leisure provision in the Stillorgan area.

The working group is now considering the following options:

?¢ The construction of a new facility on the Glenalbyn site at an approximate cost of

?¬10m;

?¢ Refurbishment of the existing facility at an approximate cost of

?¬4.6m;

?¢ Development of a facility on an alternative site in the Stillorgan area;

?¢ the impact of not building an alternative facility.

The spokesperson added that the working group has nearly completed their investigations and a report on their findings will be presented to the council at the September 14 meeting.