FEARS over the future of Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre have been allayed by its manager.

Maxine Wilson said this week that £135,000 was needed to replace boilers and other equipment in the centre’s plant room.

But she insisted that while the work was essential, it would not stop the centre’s two outdoor pools opening for the summer season, which starts in April.

Mrs Wilson said: “The work needs to be done because some of the equipment is obsolete, and it has become increasingly difficult to source new parts for repairs.

“This is a challenge for us, because the plant room is the heart of centre, and it contains the equipment which heats the pools and controls the temperature.

“But nothing has suddenly changed. The plant room hasn’t suddenly stopped working. We will continue to run as we always do while we seek the funding necessary to invest in new equipment.”

Mrs Wilson said the centre, which runs as an independent charity, was in the process of applying for grant funding from the Government’s sports development body, Sport England.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of Haltwhistle Town Council, Coun. Michael Ridley, who is also a trustee of the swimming pool, said the centre had a viable future and added: “If you take away the plant room situation, the pool is doing very well with a dedicated team of staff. “