Work has not yet started on a multimillion pound refurbishment to the historic home of one of the town's leisure centres, it can be revealed.

A £6.5 million refurbishment of the Health Hydro on Milton Road was greenlit by Swindon Borough Council earlier this year, and is expected to take up to 18 months. 

However, despite closing in April, work on the listed town centre building is yet to start because 'intrusive' asbestos surveys have been taking place and are not yet finished. 

The Friends of the Health Hydro now believe that the work will take place throughout 2024 and even into 2025, which the local organisation has labelled as "disappointing to say the least". 

At a recent council meeting, Councillor Daniel Adams asked the cabinet member for culture, art and heritage, Marina Strinkovsky, when work was likely to start. 

She responded: "In advance of the restoration works commencing, intrusive building surveys have been taking place. These surveys could not be undertaken while the building was open to the public. 

"These surveys are informing the final scheme of works and will reduce the risk of unexpected costs and time delays arising from the restoration works."

A spokesperson for the Friends of the Health Hydro said: "There have been asbestos surveys taking place, but we have no idea what's going on with them.

"It is a large and complicated building so it's understandable that it has delayed things a bit, but we've no idea how long they might continue for and when work will finally start.

"We have sought some reassurance from the council that the survey and the delays are nothing to worry about."

The Health Hydro's closure has been more keenly felt in recent weeks with The Link Centre's pool being taken out of action by flooding, combined with the ongoing closure of the Oasis Leisure Centre. 

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: “We are in the process of finalising a full programme of works for this first phase of the regeneration of the Health Hydro.

"This will see over £7m invested in improvements including creating a new gym, activity space and accessible changing facilities.

“Survey work is currently underway to inform the programme of works and completion timeframe. We’ll share more details once the surveys have been concluded.”