Fire-hit Link Centre left without power (From Swindon Advertiser)

Fire-hit Link Centre left without power

10:20am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Local By Matthew Edwards

THE town’s main sports centre has been closed after a small electrical fire led to a major power failure.

The Link Centre and West Swindon Library were forced to close yesterday following the incident late on Monday night.

Emergency work to reinstate the power is in progress and it is hoped that normal service will resume this afternoon.

A spokesman for the council said: “We had to close the Link Centre yesterday but are hoping to have it reopened by this afternoon.

“We’ve got people working on the site as we speak and have a one megawatt generator on site which is being linked up but it takes 24 hours for it to be installed.

“We are hopeful the centre will be open this afternoon.

“We had staff down at the site all day yesterday advising people of the situation and have had people taking phone calls.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

A spokesman for the fire service said: “We were called to a fire at the Link Centre on Monday night.

“There had been a small electrical fire but when crews got there it was out.

“A full inspection was made for safety reasons before we left.”

Tom Phillips, 63, of West Swindon, took his son to under-18’s ice hockey on Monday night.

He said: “The first we knew about it was when we arrived and were told the ice hockey practice had been cancelled.

“Quite a lot of people were affected by it because some of the classes go on until about midnight.

“It seems a shame for the kids during half-term as well, I am sure there were a lot of activities planned, so I feel sorry for them, and their parents.”

Sue Bernaski, 42, of Haydon Wick, intended to use the gym but only found out the centre had closed when she arrived.

She said: “I didn’t think to check the council website before I came today, I never do.

“It is a bit of an inconvenience but I suppose these things happen, I just hope it is sorted soon.

“I don’t think this is the first time the centre has had an issue so maybe the council could look into doing some work there.”

The council has said tonight’s ice hockey game between the Swindon Wildcats and the Slough Jets will go ahead as scheduled.

In the meantime, people wishing to use the centre are advised to telephone ahead to check that they are open before leaving home.

As the power failure has had an impact on incoming telephone calls, failure to get through means the problem has not been resolved and the services are not yet open.

To contact the Link Centre call 01793 445566. For West Swindon Library call 01793 465555.