ALTON Sports Centre has been forced to close its spa and steam rooms for health and safety reasons.
While work to repair a steam outlet pipe has now been completed to allow the re-opening last weekend of the steam room, according to East Hampshire District Council quality review officer, Noni Entwistle, the spa room is likely to remain closed for the next two to three weeks.
Well patronised by customers, the spa and steam facilities at Alton have only recently been updated but, while complying strictly to building regulations, once open it became clear that some modifications were needed to ensure public safety.
"Every new installation is different and it is not until it is up and running that these things start to show," explained Ms Entwistle.
The spa area requires alterations to extend the stair hand-rail - a fitting which has to be specially manufactured and will take time to acquire. Meanwhile, work is being carried out to reinstall an emergency alarm system.
"We hope to re-open as soon as possible but we are unable to say exactly when this will be," said Ms Entwistle who added:
"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience the closure of these facilities may have caused but we only have their best interest at heart."
Other facilities at Alton Sports Centre are unaffected.