CONCERNS were raised about the ongoing problems with Okehampton’s swimming pool, but bosses are asking for users’ patience and are reassuring them that reparations are in the pipeline.

Regular user of the swimming pool at Parklands Leisure Centre Margaret Cox raised concern that the moveable floor of the pool had been broken since the beginning of the year and nothing seemed to be happening to fix it.

She said: ‘The floor has been broken for months which means that there have been no classes for the little kids. Surely they can get a new part and fix it. They have put all new equipment in the gym but they are not fixing the swimming pool floor. They used to hold toddler classes but they can’t do that at the moment because it’s too deep. The showers are broken too — it’s not on.’

General manager at Parklands Chris Lamble was sympathetic to the concerns but wanted to assure users that they were in the process of trying to fix the floor.

He said the organisation which took over the centre on behalf of West Devon Borough Council in December 2016, Fusion, inherited a lot of problems from the previous operator and were working to put them right.

Chris said: ‘The moveable floor in the pool is an ongoing issue inherited by Fusion. Ten years ago, it was planned to put in a separate kids pool but it was decided instead to put in a moveable floor, but because the mechanics are submerged in water constantly, we have had no end of problems.’

He said the problem at the moment was a broken part but because the floor was an Italian design, they can’t buy the part ‘off the shelf’ and instead have to have the part specially designed and made by an engineer.

The failing of a different part caused the floor to malfunction last year.

‘Fusion paid £10,000 to fix the floor last year and it worked up until the beginning of this year, when a different part broke,’ said Chris.

‘But they have agreed to put in another £10,000 to fix this problem. We’ve got an engineer to build the part needed and now we are trying to set dates for the work to be carried out.

‘If it breaks again we may just have to look at locking it at one metre, which is the normal shallow level.

‘We’re hoping this will solve the issue but we are under no illusions that it may break again.’

Work has also been done to refurbish the gym with new equipment, new carpets, turn styles to stop the ongoing problem of people sneaking in when the reception is busy, and a new air conditioning system.

There was also concern that the hot water in the showers wasn’t working, which was due to the two boilers breaking down two weeks before new boilers were due to be installed.

The boilers are now currently being fitted and should be back up and running by tomorrow (Friday).

Chris said: ‘There’s an awful lot we know we’ve got to do but hopefully centre users can be patient with us.

‘Lots of work has gone on that people can’t directly see but it all contributes to making the centre better.

‘We know this centre can be absolutely fantastic but it can’t happen overnight.

‘Fusion have a 25-year contract so they are in it for the long run and they want to see it become a great centre for the community as much as the staff do.’

The centre holds regular customer forums for anyone with any concerns to speak directly to staff.

The next one will take place at the centre on September 26 between 6pm and 8pm.