17 April 2009

Lewes District Council was forced to close the changing rooms at the Stanley Turner Recreation Ground last week because of suspected legionnaires' disease in the water supply.

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia that causes flu-like symptoms and can be contracted in man-made water systems
An email from a council official stated the council had carried out a 'Legionnaires Risk Assessment and one result showed a problem with the water tanks which lead to a "high risk" assessment'.

The facilities are used all year round by the town's rugby and cricket clubs, and the ground includes three rugby pitches, two football pitches and a children's play area.

Derek Wade, from Lewes Rugby Club, said: 'The first I heard was on Tuesday (last week) when I saw the notice on the door.

'The council had carried out an inspection and said they suspected legionnaires' disease and so we couldn't use the changing rooms.

'This also meant we couldn't use the physio rooms or the floodlights and it meant we had to finish our training early.'

A Lewes District Council spokeswoman said 'no evidence' of Legionnaires Disease was found.

She said: 'I can confirm that this work is no more than part of a regular survey that we undertake from time to time of all facilities where they have a hot water system.

'The survey has not found any evidence at all of legionnaires and the purpose of the survey is purely preventative.'

Lewes District Council is the sole trustee of the popular recreation ground

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