IT’S the community pool that’s set to reopen, more than two years after it was saved from the brink of closure.

But just days before it reopens following a million- pound makeover, people wanting to book sessions at Oaklands Community Pool in Cromarty Road, Southampton, are unable to, as its phone lines haven’t been installed.

Those running the pool claim that they asked BT to put the lines in nine months ago and are “furious” that the work hasn’t been done.

They are now desperately urging the company to do the work before the pool reopens.

Bosses at BT insist that their engineers are working hard to finish the job, which has been delayed due to unexpected problems with the underground cabling.

As previously reported, the pool was set to close two years ago as part of budget cuts at the Labour-run city council.

A huge campaign was launched to save the facility, and it even contributed to two Labour councillors resigning from their party.

But council chiefs performed a U-turn and instead approved a £1.7m project to refurbish it and reopen it under the leadership of the Oaklands Community Pool Group.

Keys to the pool were handed over to the group by contractor Interserve last month after construction work was completed.

But just weeks before the opening date of January 5, pool facilities manager Dan Lally says that BT has still not installed phone lines.

Daily Echo:

He said: “It’s having a huge impact. We’ve only got 40 people booked in for swimming lessons and people can’t get in contact with us.

“We want people to phone us up and ask about our services and book classes, but people can’t do that.

“The community group is obviously feeling let down by this. I am furious.”

He said that until phone lines are open, people wanting to book sessions should call 07857 774672.

A spokesman for BT apologised for the delays but insisted that it received the order for the work in August and problems with installing a “significant” amount of cabling required extra work.

He added: “We have faced delays due to two major blockages in the proposed route which have not proved possible to clear.

“This meant engineers have had to excavate and install new ducting for the cables and this work is currently ongoing.

“We are sorry for the extended nature of this installation.

“We would like to assure those affected that we are doing all we can to get all this work completed as quickly as possible, and are in contact with the swimming pool owners to keep them updated.”