CONCERNS have been raised about the levels of chlorine in a public swimming pool in east Cleveland.

Councillor Dennis Teasdale, who represents the Guisborough ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, wanted reassurance that a problem on a pump had been resolved after swimmers and spectators complained about noxious smells.

The issue, which was raised at Full Council , was directed towards the local authority’s cabinet member for jobs, skills and leisure Cllr Carl Quartermain.

Cllr Teasdale asked: “Could the cabinet members for jobs, skills and leisure advise me if the filtration system in Guisborough baths, which had to be adjusted earlier this year, due to one of the filters being faulty and disconnected, is still working satisfactorily?

“The reason for my question is that I received complaints and concerns from swimmers, and members of the public, who sit and watch their children at the side of the pool, that their eyes and noses are being affected by the chlorine levels in the pool.

“I know these concerns have been raised with the management of the baths by users and have been assured the chlorine levels are within acceptable parameters but, did wonder, if there may be a continuing problem with filtration which might affect the dispersion of the chlorine from the water and air in the pool area.

“If the filtration is working satisfactorily could the chlorine levels be reduced if this would not be detrimental to health and safety for swimmers.”

Last year, the leisure centre, on Howlbeck Road, Guisborough, was closed down for six months for a £650,000 revamp which included the entire pool being re-tiled and a new gym installed.

Cllr Quartermain told members that there had been no recorded complaints at the swimming pool but he had checked that engineers had inspected the situation.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting, he said: “I did get in touch with the particular officers who work with company to check on what the situation is. The leisure centre closed for six months between January last year and July when the pool underwent a full revamp.

“There was some snagging issues with the air handling system which was handled by an external company. There has been no dangerous levels of chlorine recorded by the monitoring system.”

The councillor said he wasn’t aware of any complaints being made directly to staff at the leisure centre but accepted that complaints could occasionally slip through the system.