Safety concerns mean Sheffield swimming pool must close for six months for roof repairs
Councillor complains that problems have been hitting pool for 10 years
A Sheffield leisure centre pool will be closed for six months to carry out safety repairs to the roof that have disrupted swimming sessions.
The pool at Thorncliffe Leisure Centre in High Green will be shut from November 16 to May 2027 to enable remedial work to take place on the roof.
Councillor Alan Hooper raised complaints about the centre to Coun Brian Holmshaw, chair of the city council communities, parks and leisure policy committee. The committee met yesterday (November 2).
He asked in a written question: “When will the long-term issues with the main pool be resolved? Loose tiles have been a major problem since the leisure centre was opened over 10 years ago.
“Pool closures and part pool closures are still ongoing!
“The pool was closed for 10 days prior to and during the changeover to Everyone Active management.
“On reopening of the pool and to date one third of the pool, due to loose tiles, remains closed. Not a seamless transition!”
He said reception staff face “daily challenges due to the member dissatisfaction, frustration and lack of communications”.
Coun Holmshaw replied: “I fully recognise the frustration experienced by customers, staff and local residents because of the recurring issues with the main swimming pool atThorncliffe Leisure Centre.
“Members have rightly raised concerns regarding service disruption, reduced swimming capacity and the impact this has had on regular users of the facility.”
He said interim repairs had not solved the problem, so a comprehensive programme of remedial works has now been agreed, including full retiling of the main pool.
The council has been working closely with the operator Everyone Active and Kier, who built the centre and will deliver the repairs.
Coun Holmshaw said the pool closure at the point of handover to leisure operator Everyone Active “was the result of a significant tile failure that required immediate attention on safety grounds”.
He added: “I recognise that the ongoing restrictions have created challenges for frontline staff, who have been responding to customer concerns while continuing to operate the facility safely.”
Customers will be told about membership arrangements and access to alternative facilities before the closure, he said.