THE Woolston Neighbourhood Hub is to remain closed for the “foreseeable future” after legionella was detected in the water system last July.
Warrington Borough Council issued an update earlier today, Tuesday, stating: “While in recent weeks we have carried out comprehensive disinfection, testing and subsequent flushing, unfortunately legionella is still present in the water system.
“Woolston Hub therefore remains closed for the foreseeable future. We are working to assess the full work required and costs of repair of the hub.”
Both swimming pools had to be closed for health and safety reasons after ducting fell into the water last July and following the discovery of legionella bacteria, specialist contractors were called in due to the complex nature of the works required to resolve the situation.
The GP services based at the hub have relocated to Padgate Medical Centre.
At the time Warrington Borough Council issued a statement saying: “In July, for health and safety reasons, we had to temporarily close both swimming pools at Woolston Neighbourhood Hub after ducting fell from the ceiling into the pool area. Due to the height, breadth, and inaccessibility of the ceiling structure directly above the pool, a more detailed inspection could not be undertaken safely without the erection of scaffolding. Specialist contractors were therefore appointed to design a structure that would allow for a thorough inspection of the suspended ceiling system and mechanical services ductwork above the pools. Until this structure is in place and the investigation is complete, the full extent of the required works and associated timeframes remain unknown.
“Earlier this month, this work was placed on hold following the positive detection of Legionella bacteria in the water system. This resulted in the full closure of the site and restricted access for contractors, in line with health and safety regulations. Since the closure, our priority has been to work with specialist contractors to undertake a full disinfection of the water system to eliminate the Legionella bacteria and prevent any risk to health. We are now conducting post-disinfection testing to confirm that the water system is free of Legionella. We expect to receive the results of these tests in the coming few weeks.
“The issues we are facing are complex in nature and we are committed to resolving them as quickly as possible. However, our primary focus is on ensuring the safety of our members, visitors, staff and other residents who access local services from the hub. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this is causing and will continue to keep the community updated.”
