New parking places for Carlisle Pools users

(Date of issue: Friday, 26 September 2008)

Twenty-five new free car parking spaces behind The Pools, Carlisle are now in place.

The new parking bays are for Pools users only and will include provision for disabled badge holders. To accommodate the new spaces, to be located behind the leisure facility, The Pools slide is the process of being removed.

The use of the slide has reduced since it was installation in 1986. The yearly maintenance bill is around £1,000 but was expected to rise, as additional funding would have been needed to repair the shell of slide, electrical system and pump.

Work to remove the slide is underway by Carlisle Demolition, who has been contracted by Carlisle City Council to undertake the work. The exterior parts of the removal have been completed. This allowed work to start on the car parking spaces.

The slide will be carefully dismantled and the metal elements will be recycled. The second phase of the work will involve the interior parts of the removal, this is currently underway.

Carlisle Leisure Limited (CLL) manage The Pools, on behalf of Carlisle City Council, who own the building. Jim Douglas, CLL’s Managing Director, said:

"We need to look ahead to how we can improve facilities for local Pools users. Car parking is essential for the future running of the leisure facility. We need to provide provision for disabled users and the new parking spaces will provide easy and safe access to the building.

"We have carefully considered all the options and the removal of the slide was seen as the best way forward. We will ensure that there are plenty of fun alternatives for local children. We are also going to look at installing pool side slide equipment for young children."

Car parking was previously provided on another site near to the building, but is no longer available due to the expiry of a lease agreement with a neighbouring building. The new car parking is now in place.