Cheltenham leisure centre to reopen after RAAC found

Leisure at Cheltenham's teaching pool and splash pads have been closed for more than a month

A town's popular leisure centre will reopen on Monday after the discovery of crumbling concrete forced some facilities to shut.

The teaching pool and splash pad at Leisure at Cheltenham have been closed for more than a month after RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was found.

Structural repairs have now been carried out and the facilities reopened to the public two days earlier than planned.

The centre said: "We're pleased to announce that the teaching pool will be re-opening two days earlier than scheduled.

"The facilities were closed in January for essential structural repairs to areas of the centre containing RAAC.

"Swimming lessons and aqua aerobics sessions will resume in the teaching pool on Monday."

The leisure centre is owned by Cheltenham Borough Council and operated by the Cheltenham Trust.

Stroud Library was also forced to shut with immediate effect in February after RAAC was found.

RAAC is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s.

It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete and has a lifespan of about 30 years.

Issues discovered with RAAC saw hundreds of schools closed in the autumn of 2023.