Bromley Council has been forced to close West Wickham Leisure Centre as a “precautionary” measure, “in support of safety”.
Sudden closure: West Wickham Leisure Centre and swimming pool was built in 1967
The council made the announcement yesterday afternoon, less than three months since agreeing to carry out a multi-million-pound refurbishment of the centre.
With its 33.3-metre pool, as well as gym facilities, West Wickham has come to be used by many residents from Shirley, Addington and Selsdon since the closure four years ago of Purley Pool and leisure centre.
West Wickham pool last underwent any major works more than 20 years ago. It was built in 1967.
In a statement issued by the local authority yesterday, Bromley said: “West Wickham Leisure Centre is being closed from today following survey work relating to the redevelopment of the centre which has identified some concerns.
Reluctant: Bromley councillor Yvonne Bear
“The precautionary closure, in support of safety, is envisaged to be temporary and will allow for further survey and investigatory work to take place to establish the best way forward.
“Councillor Yvonne Bear, executive councillor for renewal, recreation and housing said, ‘We have reluctantly taken the decision to close the West Wickham Leisure Centre today to allow the issues identified to be addressed and we will update further when we can.
“‘We remain committed to redeveloping West Wickham Leisure Centre to provide excellent community facilities in line with feedback we have received from local residents.’
“The additional survey work and any remedial action will take some time to conclude, with the leisure centre closed during this period and clubs being contacted to advise them of the situation.”
Bromley’s five other leisure centres and pools remain open.
The cause for concern at West Wickham was discovered while preliminary survey work was being conducted ahead of a planned two-year refurbishment that would “redesign” the buildings to provide “new modern facilities”.
There has been some speculation that issues with the building could be related to RAAC – the cheap and fast-setting concrete used in construction of public buildings 40 to 50 years ago, but which now is being discovered at various locations – mostly in schools – to have become badly compromised and unsafe.
Bromley says that the issue at West Wickham is not RAAC-related. “We are looking at this [survey work] but this is not about RAAC,” a spokesperson for the council told Inside Croydon.
“The investigatory work will set out next steps, with detail shared when known.”
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