Public pool to close for five weeks over summer holidays
The Royton Leisure Centre's public pool in Oldham will close for five weeks from August 4 for essential maintenance to fix the deteriorated pool lining. The gym and sauna will remain open, but swimming lessons and public sessions will be relocated. Local councillors and parents have criticized the timing during the school holidays, while the council explained the urgency of the repairs.
Royton Leisure Centre Pool to Close for Five Weeks During Summer Holidays
Parents and local councillors have expressed frustration after Royton Leisure Centre announced its swimming pools will close for five weeks over the summer holidays, beginning 4 August.
The closure, affecting all public swimming sessions and children’s lessons, comes at the peak of the school break when families rely most heavily on the facility. While the gym and sauna will remain operational, swimming activities will be temporarily relocated to alternative venues.
A Royton Leisure Centre spokesperson announced via Facebook: “We want to let you know that all swimming pools at Royton Leisure Centre will be closed from Monday, August 4, for approximately five weeks due to essential maintenance work. We’re truly appreciate your patience and understanding if you planned to use these facilities during this time, and we’re sorry for any inconvenience the works may cause.”
The urgent repairs address severely deteriorated pool lining that has already limited the facility to half-use for months. Coun Peter Dean, cabinet member for culture and leisure, defended the timing: “Unfortunately, the lining of the pool is gone. Over the last few months the pool has been limited to only half use. The lining element that needs repairing is the length of the pool and the steps section. We tried to get onto it as soon as possible and unfortunately the soonest it could be done is starting on the fourth of August.”
At a council meeting on 16 July, Coun Dave Arnott criticised the scheduling: “That’s pretty much the entirety of the school holidays. If it’s planned maintenance, it couldn’t be planned any worse.”
Parents vented their frustration online, with mum Sheila Dunkerley commenting: ‘Can you believe it!!’
The leisure centre will post information about alternative locations for children’s swimming lessons on its website, and members can access other council-run facilities during the closure period.
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