People\u2019s Post<\/em> that contractors were currently on-site at the Newlands Pool to complete the repairs and maintenance work by Wednesday 7 December, after which repairs would be assessed and the opening date confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe reassure the community that we are putting in the necessary work to ensure the safe opening of the pool without delay,\u201d said Van der Ross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus far, no opening date has been confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mikhail Manuel, councillor for Ward 59, along with other City officials did an oversight visit at the pool on Friday 2 December. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to People\u2019s Post immediately following the visit, Manuel said that there were a number of issues at the pool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that although, the scale of the problems was quite large, the officials and contractors were working hard to make sure the pool opens as soon as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides the chlorine gas leak, issues with water circulation in the baby pool and chlorine distribution in the main pool have been detected. \u201cIt is a reasonably long list that needs to be addressed,\u201d said Manuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the delay in the opening of the pool was not only a disappointment for Newlands and Claremont residents but for the entire city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Sports Science Institute was planning on making an arrangement for their professional swimmers to train in the pool. This morning, I attended a meeting at Southern Sun. They don\u2019t have a swimming pool and they were going to refer their guests there. The impact is really far-reaching. I am truly sorry that we haven\u2019t been able to get this right,\u201d says Manuel, adding that he had asked Van der Ross to consider an investigation into why these issues went unchecked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt comes down to being accountable. We promised residents that the pool would be open by 1 December. We did not hit that target and will communicate the new opening date soon.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to the frustration felt, both by him and residents, at the delay, he said it wasn\u2019t being taken lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith that frustration, it is important that residents know that when we don\u2019t reach our targets that we should be honest about the shortcoming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe expect residents to hold us to a high standard,\u201d said Manuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
March Turnbull, chair Newlands Residents Association (NRA), says they too are disappointed at the delayed opening of the refurbished pool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revamp and upgrade cost the City R22 million \u2013 more than double what was initially budgeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNewlands pool has been closed for years, and the renovation was clearly enormously expensive, so I\u2019m sure the City is as disappointed with their suppliers as we are with this outcome.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He says while many Newlands\u2019 residents used the pool regularly when it was open, and are keen to jump back in, it is the wider community who are probably disadvantaged the most by the frustrating delay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are very few pools this size in Cape Town. There are even fewer with the space and facilities for people from all over the city to come and swim in a safe environment and enjoy a day out with their families and friends. It would be fantastic if the City could get the problem sorted out in time for this amazing community space to be enjoyed once again, by everyone, before the festive season is over,\u201d says Turnbull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n