FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT

PRESS RELEASE

30 May 2021

Stanley Leisure Centre swimming pool reopens

Today the Stanley Leisure Centre swimming pool was officially reopened. The project has been delivered through Guncast Swimming Pool Limited, UK specialists and local contractors.  

A day of activities was organised to mark this occasion, from fun on the aquarun to a community swim. The pool requires 380,000 litres of fresh water to fill and in total 58 tonnes of materials were imported for the project.

MLA Barry Elsby, Portfolio Lead for Development and Commercial Services, said: “This has been a hugely important project for the government, given the significance of the pool to our local community. The team involved were tested throughout the programme of works and, with the added restrictions that Covid-19 brought, everyone worked incredibly hard to ensure that this project came in on time and was delivered to a high standard. I know so many in our community are desperate to start swimming again.”

Director of Development and Commercial Services, Catherine Silva Donayre, said: “I am very proud of everyone who has been involved with this project, and would like to thank the project team who have worked hard to ensure that the end result is a success. It’s been a long time since the pool was first closed for inspection, but it was essential that the team thoroughly assessed the pool’s condition, to have a full picture of what was needed before starting procurement for a works contractor. Shipping and mobilisation times were more challenging than normal, with COVID-related border restrictions and disruption to the global supply chain. We hope the community will enjoy having this important facility open again.”

Alongside the main re-tiling works to the pool, there’s also been a programme of other improvements. This has included a paint refresh of the pool hall and changing rooms, a new sauna, and an upgrade to the plant room, with a new dosing system which is now automatically controlled using a computerised system.

Portfolio Lead for Education and Community, MLA Stacy Bragger, added: “Encouraging lifelong learning in the Falkland Islands is one of our key priorities and while the pool has been closed we have been unable to provide an opportunity for everyone to learn a key skill in swimming. It has been a long road to the opening of the pool today but I am confident that everyone in the Islands will be pleased to see this facility back in action. I will be looking forward to dipping my toe into the pool if there is any room.”

The pool will be open to the public at 6am on Monday 31 May, and full details of the swimming pool schedule can be found at www.facebook.com/stanleyleisurecentre or by visiting the SLC reception.

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