Test Valley Borough Council says temporary swimming pool on Shepherds Spring Lane will now open in late September due to "breakdown" in supply of building materials

Test Valley Borough say that the temporary pool at Shepherds Spring Lane car park will now be opened on 29 September, due to a "breakdown" in the supply of building materials.

The pool, which will bridge the gap in the town's facilities while a new leisure centre is built, was originally due to open in late August.

Community and leisure portfolio holder, councillor Tony Ward, said; “Total Swimming are working to progress the temporary pool as quickly as possible and have given us a revised opening date of 29 September.

“Naturally, we are bitterly disappointed that this delay has happened, and feel let down by the news, especially as significant progress had been made in the early weeks of building.

“We apologise to those customers who have made bookings and the Andover Leisure Centre will be in touch with them.

"In the meantime, customers are still able to use Fleming Park Leisure Centre in Eastleigh and River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester, under the current arrangements.

He added: "In addition, Places for People and the Council will be working with the other interim swimming venues to ensure the swimming club can continue to use those facilities until the temporary pool is opened.

“Once the temporary pool opens in September it will remain available for use until the new Andover Leisure Centre is completed in March 2019.”

Adrian Turner, executive director of Total Swimming, who are the contractors behind the temporary pool project, said “We share the Council’s frustration especially as this is the first delay in our company’s ten year history.

"We have been let down by a third party and this has created a knock-on effect.

"We are doing everything we can to speed up the build.”

The council says construction on the new Andover Leisure Centre, which is being undertaken by a different contractor as part of the leisure management contract, has already begun and is on track to open Spring 2019 as planned.