Financial situation forces thrift: Oberschleißheim indoor pool is threatened with closure

Created: 12/28/2022, 5:30 am

By: Bert Brosch

In 1972 the indoor pool was opened.

In its 50th anniversary year, however, there is a risk of closure for financial and technical reasons.

© Bert Brosch

The indoor pool is threatened with a rapid end.

Annual deficits of several 100,000 euros are hardly justifiable in view of the empty coffers.

Oberschleißheim

– In 2001, 80 percent of the residents of Oberschleißheim voted in a referendum to keep the baths, which will celebrate their 50th birthday in 2022.

So far, all municipal councils, including the mayors Christian Kuchlbauer (FW) and Markus Böck (CSU), have felt committed to this decision.

At that time, a good one million marks were invested in the renovation, which lasted until 2018. From that year there is an expert opinion, according to which technology, hygiene, safety and fire protection are outdated.

A renovation with gutting would cost at least ten million euros, a possible new building cost twelve million euros in 2019, meanwhile it would be over 18.5 million euros - impossible with the completely empty city treasury.

Bath is used by over 1000 school children

"In view of the rumors that are getting louder and louder in the community that the indoor pool is about to close, I warn all local councils very urgently against taking this step," said DLRG boss Klaus before the local council meeting.

The pool is used by well over 1,000 school children, as well as by many senior citizens and families, recreational athletes, the police and facilities for the disabled, as well as swimming clubs.

"Six out of ten primary school children cannot swim properly, every four days an indoor pool closes in Germany - that must not happen in Oberschleißheim," Klaus pleaded.

The DLRG give swimming lessons there, but also do their own rescue and diving training.

"There's so much involved!

I also warn against a temporary closure of the bath,

As far as I know, this could not simply be put back into operation technically.

That would be the final end.”

Closure of the "worst case"

Mayor Markus Böck emphasized that he and his council colleagues knew exactly how important the indoor pool was.

"But we don't yet know when we can start the budget consultations, because we don't have all the figures yet." The financial situation is not good, according to Böck.

He does not yet know the deficit of the indoor pool for 2022, in recent years it has always been several 100,000 euros.

"First we have to discuss and define the budget, then we can make a decision - whether we close the bathroom temporarily and renovate it or leave it open, that's just reading a crystal ball at the moment." According to Böck, a closure is certainly the worst case, but possible for financial and technical reasons.