Public pool to close for five weeks over summer holidays

A popular public pool in Oldham will close for five weeks during the summer months – right in the middle of school holidays.

The pools at Royton Leisure Centre will be shut to the public from Monday, August 4 for approximately five weeks for essential maintenance works. 

The gym and sauna will remain open but kids’ swimming lessons and public sessions will temporarily be held elsewhere, the leisure centre said. 

In a post on Facebook announcing the closure, a Royton Leisure Centre spokesperson said: “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 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 essential maintenance works are to fix the pool lining, which has seriously deteriorated. 

Local councillors expressed anger at the timing of the works during a council meeting on Wednesday, July 16, with Coun Dave Arnott saying: “That’s pretty much the entirety of the school holidays. If it’s planned maintenance, it couldn’t be planned any worse.” 

Parents online echoed the sentiment, with mum Sheila Dunkerley commenting, ‘Can you believe it!!’ and others pointing out it would affect school-age kids. 

But coun Peter Dean, the cabinet member for culture and leisure, explained: “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. 

“It is an emergency repair. 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. We hope the works will take less than the five weeks indicated. But it’s something that can’t be avoided as it’s essential to keeping the pool up and running.” 

Information about where kids’ swimming lessons will be posted on the leisure centre’s website. Those with memberships will be able to use the facilities at any other council-run leisure centres during the closure.