Petition launched over pool closure at Olympia Leisure Centre in Dundee after £6m renovation

A petition has been launched following the closure of two swimming pools at a recently renovated leisure centre in Dundee.

The Olympia Leisure Centre recently reopened following a two-year closure which saw £6m worth of repairs carried out.

However, despite the centre reopening, the leisure and toddler pool areas remain out of operation with work still being carried out.

Ewan MacGowan, a “deeply troubled concerned citizen”, has since launched a petition to demand an inquiry into Dundee City Council’s overall running of the leisure centre.

Over 100 locals have put their names to the petition in a matter of days.

Mr MacGowan said: “As a concerned citizen of Dundee, I am deeply troubled by the ongoing issues at Olympia Leisure Centre. This facility, funded by our hard-earned tax money, has been closed for two years. Upon its recent reopening, we were shocked to find that two pools have been shut down with no clear explanation provided.

“The lack of transparency regarding what happened during these two years and why these pools are now closed is unacceptable. We deserve to know how our public funds are being used and why facilities that should be available for public use remain inaccessible.

“Moreover, it’s not just about the financial aspect; it’s about community welfare too. The Olympia Leisure Centre is a vital hub for local residents to maintain their health and wellbeing. Its closure and subsequent issues affect us all.

“We call on Dundee City Councillors to launch an immediate inquiry into what has transpired at Olympia Leisure Centre over the past few years. We demand transparency in this matter as well as assurances that such mismanagement will not occur in future.

“Please sign this petition if you believe in accountability, transparency, and proper use of public funds. Let’s ensure our voices are heard.”

Dundee City Council has said that work is ongoing to get the pool areas reopened “as soon as possible”.

A spokesperson said: “Since the issues with the building at Olympia were first discovered in 2021, a number of reports have been considered by various council committees.

“These have focussed on different aspects of the situation, including providing information on the background to the need for closure and a number of progress reports on the maintenance programme which was completed late last year.

“These reports are publicly available on the council’s website and provide a detailed background and narrative on the initial, historical and unfolding situation at Olympia. Each of these reports was considered in public and all were subject to intense scrutiny by elected members.

“Work is going on at the building to ensure that the pool area currently out of operation will be reopened to the public as soon as possible”