Asbestos has been found at Basingstoke's aquadrome and will mean that the lagoon and water slides will not reopen until after the summer holidays, The Gazette can reveal.

Surveys carried out whilst the facility, popular with families and young children, was closed during lockdown have revealed the presence of asbestos.

The council has been unable to find a contractor to complete work to replace panels, delayed further by the "added complication" of asbestos, in time to open the lagoon and flumes in line with the easing of restrictions.

Asbestos is not harmful unless it is disturbed, and must be removed by specially-trained professionals. Moving it can cause fibres to be released into the air, which if inhaled can cause lung disease such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which owns the building, has said the lagoon and flumes areas will remain closed until at least the autumn, whilst it hopes to keep the 25 and 20-metre swimming pools and gym facilities open.

However, if it is necessary to close them for safety reasons, it will do so, and any areas where work is taking place will be isolated from the public.

BDBC's cabinet member for health, wellbeing and leisure, Cllr Rebecca Bean, said: “We know the Covid-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone and families are keen to return to much-needed leisure activities but the safety of visitors and staff must come first so these works need to be completed before it is reopened.

“We have been working hard to appoint a contractor to undertake these works as soon as possible but unfortunately the pandemic has led to delays in starting.

"It is disappointing that we will not be able to open the lagoon and flumes as soon as Covid restrictions allow us and in time for the school holidays and I would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

"Our contractors will be working as quickly as they can to complete this important work to ensure residents and visitors can enjoy high quality facilities at The Aquadrome for years to come.”

A routine survey was carried out earlier this year which found essential work was needed to protect the lagoon's steel structure and internal and external wall panels from the high humidity in these areas.

But further in-depth surveys in preparation for this work to start have identified other issues with the panels, including the presence of asbestos in some some older parts of the walls behind the panels.

BDBC have also struggled to get the work done as quickly as hoped, "owing to the Covid-19 pandemic impacting on the availability of contractors and the complexity of the project".

A project to replace the ventilation system with a new more energy efficient one, upgrading the fresh air flow to meet the latest national standards, has already taken place during lockdown.

Hazel Tilbury, chairperson of the Basingstoke and Deane Community Leisure Trust, which in partnership with Serco Leisure operates the Aquadrome, said: “While it is disappointing for our customers that these facilities will not be reopening at the present time, the council team are working hard to progress this project, giving us all the best possible chance of having these popular amenities available for people to enjoy in the autumn.”