MEMBERS of the Lord Butler Leisure Centre will continue to be offered a discount while work on the main pool continues. Leisure Connection, which runs the centre in Peaslands Road, and Linteum, the firm which owns the building, have pledged to do everythi

MEMBERS of the Lord Butler Leisure Centre will continue to be offered a discount while work on the main pool continues.

Leisure Connection, which runs the centre in Peaslands Road, and Linteum, the firm which owns the building, have pledged to do everything they can to complete essential works to get the pool re-opened by mid March.

Leisure Connection's contract manager, Beckie Reynolds, thanked users for their continued patience as the vital work is taking place, which has lead to the closure of the pool since August last year.

She said: "We know how frustrating this must be for our customers and I just want to assure them that we are working around the clock to ensure the swimming pool is working to full capacity and efficiency by mid March.

"We have informed our Pure water members that their memberships have been placed on hold from October and will remain as such until the pool re-opens. Members will have the first two months carried over for the August and September collections

"We are also pleased to inform our Active members that we have already applied a 10 per cent discount to their memberships from January 2010, until we re-open the pool and have decided to make this a retrospective discount which will be backdated from September 2009.

"We would also like to remind our customers that all other facilities at Lord Butler remain open as normal."

Updated customer notices have been placed at the entrance leisure centre, while customers with registered e-mail addresses have been contacted. In all other instances, members have been spoken to either in person or on the phone.

Customers, members, clubs and regular hirers are reminded that they can take advantage of Great Dunmow Leisure Centre, while swimming memberships can also be transferred across on a temporary basis until Lord Butler reopens.

David Steele from Linteum said: "This was a completely unpredictable technical fault, which first came to light in August, when there was a noted increase in water consumption.

"Investigations into the pool's operation and resulting inefficiency found a rupture in the main pipe work. Poolside excavation was essential to establish the full extent of the damage caused by the rupture and it was necessary to replace the length of pipe underground to ensure the greatest durability and strength of the repair work.

"Unfortunately, when circulation and heat were returned to the pool, tiles lifted and expansion joints had failed, which meant we had no choice but to close the pool for further tests and vital work to ensure a successful reopening to the public."

Other Leisure Centres in Uttlesford:

Mountfitchet Romeera (01279 648 580)

*Badminton

*Tennis

*5-a-side football

*Cr�che

*Fitness Facilities (Gym)

*Group Training (Aerobics)

*Indoor Bowls

*Table Tennis

*Gymnastics

*Personal Training

Great Dunmow (01371 878690)

*5-a-side football

*Badminton

*Astro turf

*Cafe

*Cr�che

*Fitness Facilities (Gym)

*Group Training (Aerobics)

*Personal Training

*Sports Courses

*Squash

*Swimming Pool

*Table Tennis

*Gymnastics

*Outdoor Pitches

*Tennis