Appeal for funds to save pool after storm damage

THE Government was under pressure last night to provide funding to save Cork’s oldest public pool.

The 30-year-old city council-owned Gus Healy Pool in Douglas was closed on Thursday after storm winds damaged its roof.

Repairs started yesterday and it is hoped the pool will reopen towards the middle of next week, a council spokesman said.

It is the latest problem to hit the dilapidated facility, which has been forced in recent years to restrict its opening hours and shed staff to save costs.

The funding saga has been dragging on for almost a decade.

City Hall sought grant aid in December 1999 from the Department of Sport’s Swimming Pool Capital Programme to help build new leisure facilities to replace its ageing public pools at both Douglas and Churchfield.

The department sanctioned €3.8m towards the cost of a new €9.5m pool and gym facility at Churchfield. It opened in July 2005 and is managed by Leisureworld on behalf of the city.

However, Douglas did not receive funding and the building has deteriorated.

Its roof has several leaks and a corner section partially lifted during high winds on Wednesday night.

Sunday’s Well Swimming Club, whose 600 members use the pool every week, called on the council and the Government to resolve the issue.