Demolition of Lido 'was right choice'
THE decision to demolish Port Talbot's Afan Lido has been described as the correct one, even with the benefit of hindsight.
Council bosses have admitted the old sports hall and parts of the main Lido building could have been salvaged after the fire of 2009.
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The original Lido
But, they said, that would have left them with a mixture of new sections and others that were 50 years old, problematic and expensive.
Finance director Derek Davies answered a series of questions during a public meeting of the task and finish group of councillors looking into the Lido's replacement.
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This was set up after Neath Port Talbot and campaigners failed to reach agreement on key issues.
One of questions Mr Davies answered was the size of the insurance settlement, and why Neath Port Talbot only received £5.7 million.
Mr Davies explained: "It had an insurable value of £14 million but that would only have been paid if the entire place had been razed to the ground in the fire, which it was not."
He said the sports hall was not structurally damaged and so could have been retained.
Part of the main pool building could also have been salvaged, although the council and insurers disagreed as to how much.
"Eventually we came to a deal," said Mr Davies. "Was it the right figure? My view is, yes. It's more than I expected."
He said the council considered it better to demolish the entire complex and start again. Even with hindsight, he said, it was the correct decision.
"That building was the best part of 50 years old," said Mr Davies.
"It had significant running costs that we just couldn't afford. You're going to redo bits and pieces and join it up to a building that is the best part of 50 years old.
"I think it's better to build something more state of the art, cheaper to run and more energy efficient."
paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk
01792 514694
Comments
by StephenG11
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 4:47PM
“Neathboy
That seems to be effectively what the Council did do. Maybe that was the best option but there doesn't seem to have been much thought given to any alternatives. Oh well!”
by Neathboy234
Sunday, September 09 2012, 7:49PM
“Given it was easily the ugliest building on the seafront, perhaps a better course of action would have been to blow it up.”
by StephenG11
Sunday, September 09 2012, 8:54AM
“An obvious course of action would have been to retain the structurally sound elements until the Council had a real and funded plan for redevelopment.”
by Neathboy234
Saturday, September 08 2012, 2:54PM
“Stork if people as so annoyed and frustrated with their councilors as you say, then why did they vote them back in. You might be annoyed and frustrated with them, but not everyone is. Come to think of it you seem to be annoyed and frustrated with everything and every one. Try being less of a grumpy old man once in a while. Stop being so angry all the time, ever thought about going on an anger management course, i think you need to son.”
by Stork
Saturday, September 08 2012, 12:20PM
“The NPT Finance Director lives in a dream world. NPT received £5.7 million insurance, so NPT "only lost" £8.3 million on the deal !
Who were the Loss Adjusters that NPT engaged to negotiate on such a big insurance claim, what do they have to say about how they performed ?
With hindsight, NPT could have saved this and that, but, why bother. Knock it down, which cost more and increased the Council's loss, then re-build, after all, it's someone else's money, the taxpayer. Typical Council thinking, and Council officials wonder why the taxpayer gets so annoyed and frustrated.
Finally, "the council considered it better to demolish the entire complex and start again". Who took that decision ?”