Clissold Leisure Centre in Stoke Newington, cost £32 million to build - instead of the initial plan of £7.5 million, and was open for just 20 months. It was closed for health and safety reasons due to major structural faults in November 2003. The Architects Journal reports that Clissold architect Stephen Hodder has employed his own structural engineers and cost consultants in a move that will compete directly with the Hackney Council's investigation. Hodder told the AJ that he has been left out in the cold by the council regarding the building's defects and is determined to find the real reason for its closure - 'We are going to have a look in the building and find out what has really gone wrong - at the moment we are being told absolutely nothing by the council. How can our architectural detailing have caused the building to be closed for so long? We do not even know for a fact that the problems are as a result of the construction'. Most recently Mr Hodder has told the AJ that there is no reason for the centre to be closed. More info on http://www.clissoldleisure.com ...more ---> ...

| pools at risk | 6 September 2004; 3:51:35 PM |# | | |