Dumfries leisure centre repairs still to start one year after closure

Repair works have yet to start at the centre which was closed nearly a year ago

Remedial works are yet to start on a flagship leisure centre in southern Scotland nearly one year after it was shut for major repairs.

The first anniversary of the closure of the multi-million pound DG One site in Dumfries falls next week.

The repairs are expected to take about 18 months to complete once they do get under way.

It means the centre is unlikely to reopen fully before spring 2017 at the earliest.

A progress report will be presented to Dumfries and Galloway Council later this month.

A statement said it had been a "time consuming exercise" to plan the repair works while continuing a legal case against contractors Keir Construction.

It said the local authority wanted to have "all strands of the project" in place before taking any decisions on the way forward.

'Resounding success'

"This will form the basis of a robust case, ensuring that we are in the best possible position to recover all costs relating to the building and subsequent closure of the site," a statement said.

It said a temporary swimming pool in the Ice Bowl car park and leisure facilities put into the Loreburn Hall had been a "resounding success" and ensured "no loss of service" for DG One customers.

It said there had been more than 62,000 visits to the pool site.

"These facilities will remain in place for as long as they are required," the statement continued.

"We anticipate that work will begin on the DG One site as soon as possible after the council makes a decision."

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