In Liberec, there is discussion about the construction of a new pool before the elections

Liberec - In Liberec, discussions about the construction of a new swimming pool near the Home Credit Arena and the demolition of the old pool completed in 1985 are starting before the elections. The pool urgently needs a technological renovation as it is outdated, the roof leaks, the glazing of the building is inadequate, and the pool itself is leaking. The city has been working on the renovation project for two years, with costs estimated at 650 million crowns. With that amount, a new pool could be built, said Jiří Němeček, leader of the ANO candidate list, during Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's visit to Liberec today.

According to him, the new pool could be built in the vicinity of the arena on land owned by the city. The plan includes a 50-meter pool as well as a 25-meter pool, similar to what is being proposed in the city center. An advantage would be the possibility of utilizing waste heat from the ice rinks. The new swimming complex is expected to rise on the site of former warehouses next to the main parking lot. The costs are estimated between 650 to 800 million crowns. Since this is municipal land, funding for the construction could be obtained.

The project already included the construction of a 25-meter pool in the sports park when it was built in 2002, but there was not enough money left for it. "As operators, we believe that such a complex should include a pool, but it is important to specify the size and to resolve the placement of the pool along with other issues,” said Lukáš Přinda, director of Sport Park Liberec. Currently, accessibility and limited parking capacity are weaknesses of the complex, which hosts 35 sports clubs and is used daily by up to 1,500 people. During hockey games or large concerts, traffic around the area collapses. The pool would mean approximately 1,000 additional visitors per day.

Babiš today, after touring the Liberec pool, labeled the idea of demolishing it and building a new one as "nonsense." "People are conservative; they won't like it. It's a beautiful pool, renovate it," the prime minister suggested. According to him, people need much more to improve transportation or find new apartments, which should be the priorities of the newly elected leadership of Liberec after the municipal elections. Jan Švec, director of Ještědská sportovní, which operates the Liberec pool, is also convinced that it deserves renovation. He has been with the pool for 24 years and is trying to maintain it despite its poor condition. However, he believes there is not much time left. It urgently needs renovation, which will take at least a year.

On the other hand, the idea of constructing a new pool appeals to Deputy Mayor Tomáš Kysela (formerly of ANO), who has been preparing the renovation project for two years. "Both options are good, but renovating the old building is always complicated; something unexpected always comes up. If the costs are currently estimated at 650 million, then once it's uncovered, they could be significantly higher—we might reach 800 to 900 million, and for the same money, we could build a new pool with the same parameters," he said. However, according to him, it will be up to the new city administration to discuss this with the citizens and also to secure funding for the expensive project.