A CHILDREN’S play and teaching pool will be closed indefinitely after council bosses discovered problems with its foundations.

The toddler pool at Bicester Leisure Centre has been closed since December 5 last year after tiles suddenly cracked on the base of the pool.

Cherwell District Council, which owns the centre, says it is no nearer finding out the cause of the leak and is now carrying out tests on the pool’s concrete tank.

But the council has come in for criticism because of the length of time the play and teaching pool has been closed, and one councillor has called for the 19-year-old pool to be replaced.

The leisure centre has two pools and these are the only public swimming facilities in Bicester.

Joanne Pennells, of Spencer Close, Bicester, said the pool was closed just weeks after her daughter Elen, six, started lessons.

She said: “I have now managed to get my daughter lessons but we have to go to Brackley, so I’m not happy.

“When you have got a little one you don’t want to use the big pool for swimming lessons.

“I’m not the only one who is disappointed. I know other mums and friends who are.”

Tony Vick, 70, of Waveney Close, Bicester, who swims at the main pool every week, says the council should get its act together.

He said: “There must be hundreds of youngsters who are being denied these facilities simply because the council can’t get its act together for one thing or another.

“I think it’s disgusting. This is the most important facility, in my opinion, in ensuring youngsters learn to swim.

“Surely the skilled engineers in that industry can come up with a solution.”

Town, district and county councillor Les Sibley said it was unfair that people had to travel out of town to take youngsters swimming.

He said: “The pool is almost 20 years old. I think now they need to bite the bullet and put in a new facility.

“They are digging the whole thing up anyway at enormous cost.”

Brian Gough, of Parkwood Consultancy Services, which runs the centre on behalf of the council, said “We are currently working to rectify the problems with the Play ‘n’ Teach Pool.

“Unfortunately, unforeseen technical difficulties have been encountered with the foundations of the pool which may result in further delays to the original programme of works.

“Several technical specialists are investigating the problems in order that we can reinstate the pool as soon as possible.”

The council says the tests have been a “lengthy exercise” because initial ones were inconclusive, but it was unable to say when the pool may reopen.

Council spokeswoman Jemma Callow said: “Ensuring the pool is re-opened as soon as possible is a high priority for all parties.

“To this end the matter is being dealt with as quick as technically possible.”