POOLS at an Ipswich leisure centre have been forced to close this week, it was announced today. Due to problems with part of the pipework feeding the leisure pool at Crown Pools, it has been necessary to close the leisure and teaching pool until Saturday this week.

POOLS at an Ipswich leisure centre have been forced to close this week, it was announced today.

Due to problems with part of the pipework feeding the leisure pool at Crown Pools, it has been necessary to close the leisure and teaching pool until Saturday this week.

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said: “It had been hoped to carry out remedial works on Sunday evening but the problem was worse than anticipated.

“Consequently, the pool has had to be drained which will take three days so the pipework can be repaired and the affected section replaced. Then the pool will need to be refilled, heated and treated before it can be re-used which will take a further two days.”

The competition pool, vitality suite and Profiles are unaffected and will remain open during the week; however, the programme will be affected within the competition pool. On Tuesday the competition pool will be closed to the public from 4.30pm. On Thursday the competition pool will be closed to the public from 4.30pm till 6.30pm and on Friday the competition pool will be closed to the public from 4.30pm till 6pm.

The spokesman added: “The competition pool is likely to be very busy as we try to accommodate as many of the activities as possible during the closure of the leisure and teaching pool.

We are sorry for the inconvenience to our customers. If the work had not been completed the pipework could have given way and flooded the plant areas causing a great deal of damage and resulting in the pool being closed for a few months to repair.”