Hearts And Minds

golden
ABOVE: The transformation of the Portishead Lido is a triumph for all involved

Attracting regional and national television coverage, the transformation of the Portishead Open Air Pool is a triumph for all involved. Work by CP Pools and DG Pool and Leisure has secured a long term future for the much-loved public amenity pool in Bristol that has 90 years remaining on their lease. Built in the early Sixties and almost entirely staffed by volunteers, the pool is fully operational thanks to the hearts and minds of the community it serves. Portishead Pool Community Trust took over the running of the open air pool in 2009 from North Somerset Council. There had been a lack of investment in the fabric of the originally been installed in 1962 and the current sand was already due for replacement. “In addition the pumps and pipe sizes were not up to modern design standards and struggled to cope with the flow rates required, especially on busy days.” FILTRATION SCHEME Carl turned to Glyn Lucas of DG Pool and Leisure who produced the final filtration scheme for the plant room. “Despite Carl and I both having worked in the industry 35 years it is only in the last six years that we have got to know each other professionally,” explains Glyn. “Carl contacted me about Portishead; a rather exciting project that he thought would be a great joint venture as Carl’s expertise lies mainly in pool construction and finishing whereas DG’s expertise is commercial filtration and mechanical services,” he continues. “We met the client and put our initial proposals forward, I believe the client was suitably impressed with our joint knowledge,” Glyn adds. “We urgently needed to upgrade the filtration to meet all current industry and PWTAG standards with quality and reliable equipment.” Work started with excavating the perimeter pipework and removing the old scum channels. The new skimmers and pipework were installed and the edges of the pool made good ready for the installation of the new liner. Meanwhile the existing filtration plant was broken up and removed by the D G Pool and Leisure team who installed the new plant. Barbara sums up: “The job came in on time and on budget and the Trust and pool users are delighted with the outcome. We would thoroughly recommend CP Pools and DG Pools to anyone contemplating a similar upgrade of their pool and plant facilities31buildings and plant for many years, particularly since the opening of the nearby indoor leisure centre. There was a televised makeover in 2009 before the pool re-opened for the summer season but this mainly addressed superficial issues. Cracks in the base of the tank and the pipework due to ground movement were an issue from the start. Patched up a number of times, it was always the plan to do a major refurbishment when sufficient funds were available. WATER LOSS “At the end of the 2016 season however, there was a major water loss which meant we had to close earlier than planned and bring forward our refurbishment programme,” explains Barbara Thatcher, on behalf of Portishead Pool Community Trust. “We approached a number of contractors to give their recommendations on how we could repair and enhance the pool,” adds Barbara. “We discussed different options with Carl Porter, of CP Pools, including a deck level pool and different finishes to the pool tank but we ultimately we decided on a system of skimmers and a new liner to be installed on top of the existing ceramic tiles,” she says.“I was personally recommended by another Lido,” Carl explains. “Initially I was contacted with a view removing the existing leaking scum channel and convert to a skimmer pool.“During site surveys and discussions with the charitable committee during the second half of 2016 it was obvious that the pool required a complete refurbishment as it was originally constructed in 1962 and for the best part was still in its original state.” The works list started to come together:• Suction and return fittings• New pipework• New plantroom• Certikin filters x 3 • PPG copings• Plastica auto cover• SCP on-site lining Carl again: “The plant room was also badly in need of updating in line with modernisation of the pool tank – the sand filters had.