THE completion date on essential repair work on the swimming pool at Carnegie Leisure Centre has been put back to the end of June.

It had been hoped the work – which includes the installation of an enhanced ventilation system designed to meet the needs of performance swimmers as well as essential maintenance on the pool tank – would be completed early this year.

However, delays due to the delivery of materials from outwith the UK associated with COVID port restrictions are affecting the contract delivery.

Emma Walker, chief executive for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “We continue to work with our partner, Fife Council, to ensure the works can be completed as swiftly as possible.

"Prior to Level 4 Scottish Government restrictions which mean all our facilities are currently closed, staff at Carnegie Leisure Centre worked hard to engage with clubs and deliver a pool timetable which allowed opportunities for a wide range of users.

“Thanks to our COVID-ready centres, we are confident that once Government restrictions allow, Carnegie will be in a good position to get up and running quickly with the highest health and safety protocols to protect customers and staff while we wait for the completion of works.

“We will update customers in the coming months as we receive further information from Fife Council.”

Convener of the council's community and housing services sub-committee, Judy Hamilton, was pleased to see the repair project was progressing.

She added: "This is vital work to allow swimmers to have the best possible experience at the Carnegie pool when restrictions allow.

"The council's investment in Fife's leisure facilities is more important than ever as we all look forward to the time when we can once again reap all the advantages of improved health and wellbeing."

The delay in the £200,000 repair work was one of several projects due to be highlighted to Fife Council's policy and co-ordination committee today (Thursday).

A report from executive director (finance and corporate services), Eileen Rowland, said a number of their large-scale projects had progressed more slowly than anticipated, including the repairs at the Carnegie Centre.

"The ongoing Government restrictions and lockdown arrangements means there continues to be potential that COVID-19 will impact on project costs and will extend many project delivery dates as contractors continue to make adjustments to working arrangements to accommodate new requirements, such as social-distancing," she said.

Ms Rowland's report stated that the council was showing a projected spend of £131.635 million of the total expenditure budget of £150.174m with a spillage of £18.540m.

"This level of expenditure demonstrates continued progress on the delivery of a wide range of capital projects," she added. "Major capital investment by Fife Council continues, despite the COVID-19 restrictions, however, there is still a level of uncertainty associated with speed of delivery and future costs."