After the Council took over the Bath Spa project, specialist
consultants Capita Symonds were asked to produce a full report on
the condition of the building so that the Council knew exactly what
had to be done to complete the work. Their findings, which Capita
Symonds have just released, reveal a number of problems. Capita
Symonds has advised that these further defects can be rectified
without adversely affecting the project programme.
In summary, the problems are:
- The glass wall surrounding the building is defective and much
of it will need to be replaced. In addition, a number of panes have
been vandalised.
- Several internal fire doors are not up to standard and are
being replaced.
- Door frames in the steam room and treatment rooms are too weak
to carry the weight of the doors.
- A number of sections of floor have to be taken up and re-laid
to prevent leaks.
- Some electrical fittings have been found to be defective
and will be replaced as part of the floor repair programme. The
wiring does not match the wiring diagram (e.g. some of the switches
do not operate the equipment they are supposed to).
- The wrong type of steel has been used in some areas leading to
rusting and these will need to be replaced with stainless steel.
This is not a structural problem.
- Paint is peeling from walls in the steam room and is being
investigated further. This is not thought to be as serious as
previous problems with paint peeling off the lining of the
pool.
- A crack has been found in the basement where a temporary joint
was not finished off properly and this is also being
corrected.
In addition, the Council has decided to make a change in the
preferred technology for water treatment for the Spa. When it was
originally designed ozone treatment was specified on two of the
pools on the advice of the Council’s external consultants.
The Council has now changed the water treatment specification on
all pools to a UV treatment system which, for various reasons, is
now believed to be more appropriate.
It is estimated that the cost of these additional works will be
£1.3 million.
Cllr Nicole O’Flaherty, Executive Member for Tourism, Leisure
and Culture said,
“My first reaction was a mixture of concern and disappointment.
However, I am assured by our contractors and officers that the
implications of this list of works will have little or no bearing
on the opening date of the project. These faults will be the
subject of claims against those responsible
“It is of concern to all those who have been closely
involved in the Spa whether these problems would have been found if
the Council had not brought in a new team to deliver the
project. In view of the additional work that has now come to
light, I find it inconceivable that the previous contractors would
have been able to complete the building to everyone’s satisfaction
in the time they stated. I am pleased with the progress that
Capita Symonds are making in progressing completion of the Spa
“We are still on course. The difference now is the Council gets
a better picture of what is going on and that allows us to share
that information with the public and the media.
“For those who took advantage of looking inside the Spa over the
summer, many of these faults will come as a surprise to them – as
they have to me. We will continue to be open and keep everyone
up-to-date on progress.”
