Multi-million pound leisure centre works 'could avert disaster'

COUNCILLORS have agreed to spend millions of pounds on much-needed behind-the-scenes refurbishments at a busy leisure centre.

A report to Darlington Borough Council cabinet members said that, without the improvements, some of the electrical and mechanical systems at the Dolphin Centre were at risk of 'catastrophic failure'

The full council had previously approved 2.7m for improvements to the 'back of house' systems at the centre many of which have not been updated since the it opened 33 years ago.

The release of that funding was approved by members of the council's ruling cabinet committee at a meeting on Tuesday (April 7).

A detailed study has been carried out, identifying the work that needs to be carried out and in what order.

An initial phase of work will begin in September and last until next March, with the remaining work staggered over the next five to seven years.

The report to cabinet members said elements of the centre's mechanical, electrical and plant installations were now in need of 'significant ongoing maintenance, with some areas being liable to critical/catastrophic failure in the near future.

Cabinet members also agreed to allocate 210,000 of council funding to cover the anticipated loss of income, as areas of the centre will need to be temporarily closed when work is carried out.

The centre, in Horsemarket, was opened in 1982 and attracts more than 900,000 visits a year.

Its last significant refurbishment came in 2006, when only limited work to the mechanical and electrical systems was carried out, as it was felt the majority of the installations had a further ten to 12 years' life expectancy.

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Multi-million pound leisure centre works 'could avert disaster'