Pickaquoy Centre facilities closure - update

Part of the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall is set to remain closed to users until at least the end of March following a significant flooding incident in the plant room of the swimming pool.

Last month’s flood led to failures in plant equipment, including heating and ventilation systems, pool circulation and electrical supplies.

This means that all the facilities in the ‘new side’ of the building are closed including the swimming pool, squash courts, wet side changing facilities and Studio Two. The gym, cinema, cafe, soft play and sports hall remain open as usual.

Contractors have been hard at work on site over the last fortnight to fully assess the damage - with the subsequent repair works due to get underway from next week.

It is expected that the earliest some of the facilities could reopen will be the end of March.

Alternative leisure facilities are available on the Orkney mainland at the Stromness Swimming Pool and Healthy Living Centres in Dounby and St Margaret’s Hope as well as the KGS Sports Centre – with these facilities covered by the ActiveLife Scheme.

Extended opening hours have been put in place in Stromness, where users can access a gym, swimming pool and health facilities, including a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.  The closure of the facilities at Picky has seen a substantial increase in footfall at the Stromness centre.

Work is ongoing to further extend these hours, and a new timetable will be published shortly.

James Linklater is the Managing Director of the Pickaquoy Centre.  He said: “Significant damage was caused by the flood, and we’ve got no option but to keep parts of the centre closed whilst we fully assess the damage.

“Specialist contractors and insurers have been on site over the last fortnight identifying the work that is required. There’s a lot of different elements that need to be taken into account and it will be by no means a quick fix.  We’re anticipating the very earliest we can reopen some of the facilities is the end of March – but it could be longer.  If we do manage to reopen sooner – even its just one or two of the facilities affected, then we’ll let folk know.”

Picky Junior Courses team have been in touch with customers that have children enrolled in swimming lessons but if anyone has any queries in the interim, please contact courses@pickaquoy.com

ActiveLife queries should contact memberships@pickaquoy.com and the team at Picky will be happy to help.

For more details regarding opening hours of Stromness Swimming pool please visit: www.orkney.gov.uk/ssp 

For more details regarding opening hours of KGS Sport Centre please visit: www.orkney.gov.uk/kgs