Fears have been raised over the future of Stafford’s Riverside swimming pool, now closed indefinitely after flood water wrecked an electrical control room and destroyed vital equipment.

Water flooded into the crumbling centre during last week’s floods and it is now unclear when the centre will reopen after it was revealed pumps were irreparably damaged by the water.

Jim Arnold, sports and leisure manager at Stafford Borough Council said the council WILL reopen the pool, but cannot say when.

He said: “The control room is still under two feet of water so it is a difficult situation.

“We don’t have any firm figures about how much the repairs are going to cost, and, although we managed to dry out some of the electrics, others were too badly damaged. 

“We ordered two new pumps on Sunday and as soon as they arrive we will fit them immediately. The problem is we can’t be entirely sure when that will be.

“After that we will need to get the water back up to temperature, which takes a couple of days and then we need to test the water clarity. 

“We were lucky that the flood water didn’t get into the pool itself, just the control room.”

Mr Arnold denied suggestions that the swimming pool could remain closed until the new leisure centre in Lammascote Road opens its doors next spring. 

He said: “This isn’t something we would consider. We have opened the dry side of the operations – sports halls and squash courts – it is just the swimming pool that is the issue. We are working hard to ensure the pool is reopened as quickly as possible and I have a meeting arranged later today to look more closely at the costs and repair work involved.” Mr Arnold confirmed that the centre is insured and that the payout will cover “most” of the thousands of pounds of repair works that need to be carried out. 

The Riverside centre, which reopened today, a week after it first closed its doors, is not the only business still reeling after last week’s floods, with the Picture House pub on Bridge Street also remaining closed today.

River levels were still high on the Rivers Sow and Penk this morning although the level of the Sow fell by 2cm overnight – as measured at the Milford gauge. Despite this, parts of Victoria Park, including the paths around the Mill Pond are still under water.

A flood watch is still in place on both rivers, and the Environment Agency said there is still a flooding threat throughout the sections of the Sow from Great Bridgford to Shugborough – which includes the stretch through the centre of Stafford.

North Staffordshire was brought to a virtual standstill last night following severe flooding and a lightning strike. Fire crews in the north of the county received 102 calls and attended 75 incidents between 4.45pm and 7pm yesterday in the Kidsgrove, Leek and Biddulph areas.