LETTERS of claim have been submitted against parties involved in the design, supervision and construction of Helensburgh’s weather-damaged leisure centre, a councillor has reported.
Councillor Ross Moreland (Liberal Democrat, Dunoon) had already reported that internal works at the leisure centre were set to continue until spring 2027.
In an update to councillors, he then said that Argyll and Bute Council’s insurers had lodged claims against unnamed parties involved in the construction while exploring “every appropriate avenue” to recover costs.
The leisure centre has been closed since January 2025, when Storm Eowyn ripped off parts of the roof.
Cllr Moreland, the council’s policy lead for finance and commercial services, is due to visit the leisure centre on Friday, September 25. The update was given at a full council meeting on Wednesday, September 23.
He said: “Following Storm Eowyn, the council acted quickly to make alternative arrangements for services that had been displaced from the leisure centre, including fitness and library provision.
“At the same time, work began with insurers, loss adjusters and specialist consultants to fully understand the extent of the damage and determine what would be required to restore the building.
“What has become clear during that process is that this is significantly more complicated than repairing the damaged roof.
“As areas of the building have been stripped out, contractors have identified additional issues that had not previously been visible. These matters require further investigation and, in some cases, additional remediation.
“The council is working to address those issues alongside the wider programme wherever possible, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary delay.
“The roof itself is on track for completion in October 2026, with the new design incorporating enhanced resilience measures.
“Internal strip-out works are expected to conclude at the end of October, with internal repairs and the reinstatement of mechanical, electrical and building fabric works scheduled to continue into 2027.
“The council’s stated objective remains to reopen the leisure centre as soon as practicable in 2027. In the meantime the council will do everything possible to reopen the pool side of the facility and I will be visiting the leisure centre with the executive director and the head of service on Friday to look at possible options.”
Cllr Moreland added: “At the same time, the council has a responsibility to ensure that every appropriate avenue is explored to recover costs where other parties may have responsibility.
“The council’s insurer has therefore submitted formal letters of claim against certain parties involved in the original design, supervision and construction of the leisure centre.
“These are important steps in protecting the interests of the council and, ultimately, the public purse. However, it is important to stress that these are ongoing proceedings and that a letter of claim does not itself establish liability. The council must allow the legal process to take its course.
“For that reason, there are limits to what can responsibly be said publicly about the specific issues, parties involved or potential claims.
“That should not be interpreted as a lack of action. On the contrary, the council is continuing to pursue the recovery process while progressing the physical works needed to restore the building.
“The priority remains clear: to get the leisure centre repaired, to address the additional problems that have been uncovered, to reopen it as soon as circumstances allow, and to ensure that every legitimate opportunity to recover appropriate costs is pursued on behalf of the community.”
