Drying delays at National Sports Centre

Recovery and rebuild after the floods

There have been delays in fixing the flooding issues at the National Sports Centre.

Two months ago the indoor sports halls, bowling arena and squash centre were severely damaged when under two feet of water.

The outdoor hockey pitch needs to be replaced and there was contamination of the athletics track and The Bowl playing surface.

The Isle of Man Institute for Sport building is still closed.

Department of Education officials say the work on the indoor facilities can't begin until the insurers certify they have dried out completely.

The lighting in the sports halls is to be improved and tender documents will then be sent out - it is still hoped they will reopen in May.

No date has been given for the reopening of the squash and bowling facilities as the Department is looking into possible improvements.

The athletics track will be professionally cleaned next week and could open the following week.

Specialists have taken samples from the surface and substructure of The Bowl and the report is due shortly.

Work on replacing the astro-pitch can't start until warmer weather arrives in the spring - it's hoped the new pitch will be ready by the end of summer.