A burst water pipe has destroyed thousands of pounds worth of electrical equipment in Rugeley Leisure Centre’s pool plant room – responsible for keeping the water clean and safe.

Specialist electrical engineers were called in to assess the damage. However, with the main motherboard needing replacing along with extensive re-wiring, and replacement of some specialist equipment, the leak has caused significant damage. Insurers are also assessing the cost of damage caused ahead of work starting on repairs.

Neil Hutchinson, MD at Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (IHL), said:

We’re devastated by this incident. There’s never a good time for something like this to happen, but this is one of our busiest times of year, and we genuinely feel for our customers. We’re doing everything we can to get this resolved with our insurance company so that work can start immediately and get the pool back up and running ASAP.

We will be in announcing a reopening date as soon as we have a start date for works to begin.

If you are an IHL Rugeley member, please check your email for information on alternative and additional sessions that we have arranged to keep you and your family active during the closure.

This includes a new timetable of temporary swimming lessons at Chase Leisure Centre and replacements for water based classes like Aqua Aerobics.

If you are a Direct Debit member, but have not received the email, please contact our team by emailing rugeleylc@ihlmail.org

Councilor Jo Elson, Portfolio Leader for Community Wellbeing from Cannock Chase Council said:

This burst pipe has caused an incredible amount of electrical damage and needs to be fully repaired before the pool can re-open safely. The team at IHL has our full support in trying to re-open Rugeley Pool as quickly, and as soon as it is safe to do so.