CAMPAIGNERS are demanding to know why a £665,000 swimming pool project has been hit by a two-month delay.

The indoor heated pool at a council-owned recreation centre is unlikely to re-open until the middle of next month – nine weeks later than planned.

Swimmers at Applemore Health and Leisure, near Hythe, will have been without the facility for five months by the time the refurbishment is complete.

Members of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on New Forest District Council want to know why the retiling project is so far behind schedule.

They are also calling on the Tory-controlled authority to reveal the financial cost of the delay, including the amount of lost income.

Cllr David Harrison, a former leader of the Lib Dems, claimed a dispute had arisen between the council and the contractor and also cited the possibility of legal action.

Cllr Maureen Robinson, who represents Hythe, accused the authority of keeping people in the dark.

She said: “Residents are asking what the issues are.

“They have a right to know and they feel they’re not being told what’s going on.”

The issue was raised at this week’s council meeting by Cllr Malcolm Wade, who said the closure had caused “inconvenience and disruption” to locals, including schools that used the pool.

Cllr Di Brooks, Cabinet member for leisure, described the delay as “extremely unfortunate” and ann-ounced that |an investigation would be held.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: “As soon as the review has been carried out we’ll explain exactly what happened and what caused the delay.”

The pool closed in June to enable it to be retiled for the first time in 20 years.

Last night a council spokeswoman said the facility was due to have re-opened on September 8, but would remain closed until November 15.

She confirmed that an investigation would be held to establish the cause of the delay and what lessons could be learned.

The spokeswoman said: “We are currently pulling together information to enable us to review the refurbishment project, including a full analysis of any financial variations. Until that point we cannot comment on any possible cost increase.”

Asked who would foot the bill, she added: “This cannot be determined until the review has been carried out.”

A bulletin issued to Applemore customers says the age and layout of the pool – a “unique” first- floor facility supported by brick pillars and concrete columns – raised “a number of challenges”.

The refurbishment is being carried out by Southampton-based PTC, which declined to comment.