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The reopening of London Fields Lido has been delayed with Hackney council branding the construction and restoration work substandard.
London-based construction firm Etec had been employed to restore the lido after tiles began coming away from the side of pool early last year, with an entire tile and render replacement being required. At the same time Hackney council opted to also refurbish the changing rooms and reception area.
Despite being closed for months over the summer, the most popular time of the year, Hackney council’s inspectors said the electrical systems and the poolside area had not yet been completed to an “acceptable standard”.
In a statement published on Wednesday, the local authority said the lido “cannot and will not” reopen until this is rectified, and refused to speculate on a possible opening date.
Cllr Jon Burke, Cabinet Member for Energy, Sustainability and Community Services, said: “Whilst the substantive work of replacing the screed, render and tiles within the pool itself has been completed, the contractor has not finished the poolside area to an acceptable standard.
“There are also problems with the new mechanical and electrical systems throughout the building which need to be resolved before the facility can be safely reopened.
“At first glance it may look like the pool is ready, but the entire facility needs to be completely safe before the public can be allowed to enter the lido. That means clean, smooth and level surfaces. We have made it clear to the contractor that the council will not accept a substandard finish, so the pool cannot and will not open until this is achieved.
He added: “The contractor is working through a series of defects to agreed deadlines – we need to be 100% certain that these will be met before announcing an opening date.”
Etec has yet to comment.
