Extensive damage caused by the red weather event Storm Eowyn

By Aileen MacLennan

Work continues to progress in repairing the damage done by Storm Eowyn to the Helensburgh leisure centre.

It is a complex process and as a lot of the effort that is being made might not be visible, so we have decided to provide information on the work being done.

The roof has been damaged to such an extent that the entire roofing system will require to be removed and then relayed layer by layer.

Unfortunately, it is not as straightforward as sourcing more roofing sheets and re-attaching them as has been suggested by some.

Given that almost 60% of the outer roofing materials were lost during the storm, an internal rainwater capture system has been recommended by the insurers and disaster recovery experts which is common in similarly damaged buildings (see attached photos).

This system has been installed by the council and its contractors, and protects the internals from further water damage, whilst allowing roofing contractors to work on the building from above.

We would like to acknowledge everyone who helped in different ways when Storm Eowyn hit.  If we had not got things moving as quickly as we did, the repair time could have been longer. 

We also want to thank the users of the Leisure Centre who have been patient while we take the necessary steps to rectify the situation and have taken up the alternative arrangements put in place by Live Argyll to provide leisure services – see below.

Work required 

Storm Eowyn caused considerable damage to the roof of the leisure centre, and from there, damage to the inside of the building.

Carrying out repairs in brief involves:

• Identifying the extent of the damage to the building, and from there the repairs needed to re-instate and reduce the risk of this happening again.
• Liaising with loss adjustors and insurers about financing the recovery work
• Commissioning contractors to carry out work.
• Working with Live Argyll on alternative proposals for leisure services while this work is being done

Where we are now with progress

• Complete – immediate, temporary protection measures carried out to the roof
• Complete – car parking spaces and EV chargers made available again for use
• Complete – alternative arrangements in place for gym and fitness classes
• Complete –internal repair work and water capture system (see photos below) to protect the building as reasonably practicable
• Complete – attached a waterproof membrane to the roof
• Complete – realigned the fencing cordoning off the site to enable public access to a section of the pier.
• Complete – a detailed survey of the damage
• In progress – a technical specification for the roofing repairs works,
• In progress – a technical specification for the internal repairs
• In progress  – discussions and tendering with contractors about our specific technical and operational requirements
• In progress – ongoing discussions with loss adjustors and insurers who are progressing our claim

Timescale for reopening

Our aim is to get the centre open again as soon as practicable. We cannot yet give a definite timescale for this because various key steps and survey works are ongoing, and the repair and the timescale for completion will be dependent on those, and also on the availability of the roofing materials, availability of specialist labour, and sequencing of the repairs. These will all have a bearing on the repair programme, and while we have no definitive programme date for completion, it’s clear that it will be several months before the Leisure Centre is reopened.

At this time, and based on the information available a reasonable estimate for reopening could be no later than the end of March 2026.

We are continuing to work with our contractors and insurers to investigate if there is potential to re-open the pool, located on the ground floor area, ahead of the completion of the works on the first floor.  This will not be possible until the entirety of the roof is replaced, as there will be works ongoing immediately above the pool and electrical systems, which the pool relies upon, require to be repaired. This will, however, be kept under review as the programme and sequencing of complex repair is developed with our contractors.

Next steps

This is a complex repair following extensive damage caused by the red weather event Storm Eowyn and we are working closely with our insurer and loss adjuster, who have experience in similar disaster recovery projects. 

Work will continue on the ‘in progress’ actions mentioned above. We expect to have an update on the repair programme in the coming weeks, and we will share this when it is available.

The council’s Policy Lead for Finance and Commercial Services, Councillor Ross Moreland, said: “We want Helensburgh Leisure Centre to reopen as soon as possible, and we are working hard behind the scenes to make this happen. We are making progress as quickly as circumstances allow, but it is a complex process.

“The ferocity of Storm Eowyn caused considerable damage to the leisure centre. We are extremely grateful to everyone who assisted and stepped up during the initial clear-up to get things moving quickly. We know how much the people of Helensburgh and Lomond value the leisure centre, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. We hope to have more information about the timeline for repairs in the coming weeks, and we will share this as soon as we can.”

Leisure services available 

While the leisure centre remains closed, liveArgyll has temporarily relocated its services. Details of these temporary arrangements are available on the liveArgyll website.