Pool Closure – Statement from COSASC Board

Message to all COSASC Club Members

The Board were notified by Sunderland Aquatic Centre management that the City Council met last week to discuss the maintenance of the pool. There have been problems with the roof at the pool, the leaks of which have been progressively worse over the last couple of years.

A decision has been made to close the pool sometime in 2018 to fully remove the roof, repair the damage and then re-fit the roof.  It is estimated that this could take 6-9 months.

The Council and Councillors wanted to have a fuller picture before advising key partners.  However, the Sunderland Echo received some recent Council minutes and ran the story on Friday 17th Feb which you may have seen.

The Council is committed to relocate the club’s pool time to alternative facilities, but obviously this would be short course and not long course.  This would also have an affect on the meets we would have ran during the period of the pool closure.

As soon as the Centre management know more detail, they will share that with us, so we can be part of the transition plan for what will happen when the SAC pool closes.  At this time, the Centre Management do not know when in 2018 the closure will take place.

Clearly this will have an impact on the club, training programmes, competitions and swimmers.

The COSASC Board want to reassure swimmers and their families that we are committed to work with the City Council, Councillors and Everyone Active to get the best solution for the club and swimmers.  We will update you in due course.

COSASC Board

(Ian Wilson, Mike Wylie, Catherine Brewerton, Ann Rogers)