Leisure Centre Pool Set to Reopen Following Roof Damage

The Kingfisher Leisure Centre pool in Sudbury, Suffolk, which was forced to close in August after a glass roof panel sustained damage, is now scheduled to reopen next month. Initially, the pool was expected to be shut only until mid-September. However, subsequent inspections revealed that additional panels were also affected, leading to further delays. The facility is set to resume operations on December 11, with temporary safety measures implemented. Laura Smith, Babergh council’s Green Party cabinet member for thriving communities, confirmed that the glass roof has been sealed and a new safety platform has been installed beneath it. “We’d like to thank everyone for their understanding – we know this closure has caused disruption, but we have had to put people’s safety first,” she stated. “This has been a complex problem, and we have had to balance the need to reopen the pool as quickly as possible with finding the best long-term solution.” The council is currently evaluating its long-term options, which include removing all 170 of the specially-designed panels and replacing them with an alternative type of roof. “This could present a better option than a like-for-like replacement of the existing glass, and we are working on the design and costings,” she added. While the pool was closed, other necessary repairs were also carried out. In 2019, more than £2.3m was invested in modernising the leisure centre.