A council report has revealed the full extent of the health concerns over the Victoria Park Leisure Centre, which faces closure until August.

Initial checks discovered asbestos in two plant rooms closed to the public. A late survey found it in the roof void above the swimming pool.

Leisure services director Paul Hogan said the plant rooms contain equipment to ventilate the building.

In a report to the Erewash Council Executive, he wrote: "The
air handling equipment draws air into the building, heats it and then circulates it around all the public areas of the centre.

"Consequently there was a potential that material containing asbestos could have been circulated around the whole building which would present a health risk to staff and users."

But urgent tests later showed "asbestos fibres in the atmosphere were below the control limit and that the building was safe for re-occupation by staff."

However the ventilation system could not be used and so the building could not be re-opened.

The Tory-run executive agreed to spend about £140,000 on asbestos removal, on top of financing a condition survey before it makes a long-term decision.

Leisure spokesman Cllr David Stephenson said he was confident that Ilkeston would not lose its only public swimming pool.

"The future of the pools at the leisure centre has been a subject of Labour scare tactics for quite some time now.

"Like Ilkeston Town Hall and the museum, the closure of swimming facilities has never been part of any plan.

"The centre was built in the 60s and is for me something of an iconic building. When I became lead member for sport four years ago, I took stock of the building.

"I was horrified to find there had been almost no maintenance in the preceding years when Labour were in control. All of their interest was in the building of ostentatious projects like Sport Erewash," said Cllr Stephenson.

He said the asbestos alert made it essential to close the building to prevent a risk to health. He expects the council to spend about £316,000 on the complex.

"From the very first moment officers and councillors were aware of this matter, the safety of pool users and our staff were the highest considerations.

"At all times the people concerned were interested only in safely and legally getting the pool back into use. At no time was cost a factor in deciding what had to be done," said Cllr Stephenson.

But Labour leisure spokesman Louis Booth said the Conservatives have mishandled the issues and added to costs.

He said surveyors would have to be paid for work they were due to carry out - but which had to be halted over the asbestos worries.

"The plant room was identified as a major concern and that is why they stopped the job but the public are paying for it," said Cllr Booth.

For every month it remains shut, it costs the council £28,999 in lost income. Some swimmers are using facilities at West Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton.