SETTLE swimming pool, which was forced to close following storm damage to the roof late last year is now likely to remain shut until the completion of the redevelopment work later this summer.

Insurers have agreed to meet the full cost of repairing the pool roof and the loss of business. However, the charity that runs the pool says hopes of making speedy repairs to the roof have been set back following the full assessment of the damage and the repairs needed to make the roof secure for the long term.

A spokesperson said: "The specialist materials needed for the roof repairs are now on order but such is delivery time that it looks unlikely that the work can done before completion of the redevelopment programme now underway.

This means that the most likely scenario is that a full re-opening of the pool and the new facilities will take place at the same time later this summer.

One positive development is that following the roof repairs it will now be possible to install solar panels on the roof area and a special fund-raising project is being launched to raise the estimated £18,000 installation costs. The cost of installation is expected to be recouped over a six year period, through reduction in the pool’s electricity bills and the sale of surplus electricity to the grid."

The first event in a fund raising programme will be through participation of a pool team in the Dragon Boat Regatta to be held at Coniston Cold lake on May 15, when the team will be up against other teams from other good causes and charities.

The pool is also allocating the £1,750 donated by last year’s Hellifield Harness Racing to the solar panel fund.

Pat Taylor, chair of the pool charity, said: “Whilst it is disappointing that the roof repairs are going to take much longer than we hoped and we are sorry that we are not able to provide the swimming facilities that our supporters value so much, the acceptance by the insurers of both the repair costs and loss of business means that financially we have suffered far less damage that might have been the case.

“The opportunity to add solar panels will be of great long-term benefit to the pool and together with the new facilities will equip us well for the future.”

To support the pool paddlers in the dragon boat race, a Justgiving page has been set up at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sasp-dragonboat-2022