Newry Swimming Pool is to re-open to the public in January in a “phased approach”, Newry, Mourne and Down Council have said.
The council has said the “extensive” works programme to fully refurbish the pool hall and village change areas is continuing after “significant progress” was made over the summer.
It is anticipated that the works will be complete in December, and the re-commissioning of the pool hall, including re-filling the pools, will take approximately four weeks, with the pools opening again to the public in January in a phased approach.
The works are being undertaken to address essential repairs to the hydraulic system of the movable floor and to completely replace the tiles in the pool hall and surrounding areas.
Since June, works have been ongoing on the full refurbishment of the pool hall.
This has included the removal of all tiles from the main pool and learner pool, pool surrounds/walkways and all tiles within the village changing area, toilets, showers and areas off the village change.
At the same time, essential maintenance works are being completed on all equipment and services within the pool hall, health suite and plant room.
In total, an estimated 120 tonnes of tiles, screed and building materials have been removed to reveal the concrete sub-structure.
The extensive programme of works that are currently underway will provide what is essentially an entirely new pool hall.
Council officers and representatives are continuing to engage regularly with contractors to urgently progress the programme of work to completion.
All other facilities within Newry Leisure Centre remain open while this work is progressing.
Council officers have been meeting with representatives of local user groups to make alternative arrangements for pool provision in other centres during the closure of Newry pool.
