THE opening date for Helensburgh’s new swimming pool has been put back for a further six months due to delays in the tendering process, Argyll and Bute Council’s depute leader has revealed.

Helensburgh councillor Gary Mulvaney, the authority’s policy lead for strategic fnance and capital regeneration, says the pool – the centrepiece of the council’s £19.5 million regeneration of the town’s waterfront – now has a predicted opening date of May 2022.

The authority revealed at the start of July that due to an ‘inadvertent technical breach’, it was having to restart the tendering process for the principal works contract.

The development was initially given planning permission in January after a lengthy planning process which saw councillors twice defer a decision in order to seek further information.

READ MORE: Helensburgh waterfront contract process to be relaunched after 'technical breach'

The town’s existing swimming pool will not be demolished until the new facility is in place.

The pool originally had an opening date of April 2020; at the time the technical breach was disclosed, the opening date was pencilled in for November 2021.

The potential impact of the delay in the tendering process on the overall affordability of the project has yet to be made clear.

As well as the swimming pool and leisure centre, the project also includes revised car parking facilities, additional flood protection measures, and a range of ‘public realm’ works on the site.

READ MORE: New report raises fears over waterfront's affordability

Councillor Mulvaney said: “The re-tendering process continues on this project, with the council looking to award the contract and start construction work on the site from late April next year.

“It is a real shame that both planning and tendering issues have delayed this project and that the facility will not now be open till May 2022.

“This is a real flagship project for the council and everyone is keen to make sure we make it the best we can.

“The only benefit of these delays is that officers can work up the proposals to spend the additional £85,000 awarded for improving pedestrian access to the wooden pier. This work was identified in a recent engineering report.

“The engineering inspection on the pier also highlighted the considerable costs in doing more extensive works, which were estimated to be in excess of £850,000.”

READ MORE: £1.2m to be spent on Helensburgh's waterfront – before a brick is laid

At the time of the data breach being revealed, a council statement said: “Complex projects like the waterfront development must follow strict procurement processes and in this instance the council has identified that an inadvertent technical breach occurred in the initial response it received to the tender.

“Therefore the council will re-launch the tender process.

“As well as ensuring legal compliance, this next tender will include the option of using Helensburgh pier to deliver the new leisure centre and swimming pool development effectively.”