Most of the costs for the planned reconstruction of the swimming pool are to be covered by a loan from Liberec

Liberec - Most of the costs of the planned reconstruction of the city pool, estimated at 1.2 billion crowns excluding tax, will be financed by Liberec through a new loan. The city's mayor, Jaroslav Zámečník (Mayors for the Liberec Region), told ČTK that they plan to borrow 750 million crowns.

"We would like to approve the parameters of the competition this September. We will approach at least five banks, and of course, other banks can also apply. I would like us to possibly approve the acceptance of the loan in the December city council, thus securing the financing," said the mayor.

According to him, Liberec can take such a large loan, even though it has been repaying a two-billion crown debt since 2010. "At this moment, we owe about 1.3 billion crowns out of the two billion. Our current repayments, including interest, amount to 200 million annually. If we take the loan for the pool, we would repay 250 million a year. That means an additional 50 million crowns, I believe the city and the budget could handle that," he added. Liberec's debt, that is, the ratio of debt to the average annual budget income over the last four years, is now at 50 percent.

The Liberec swimming complex in Tržní náměstí is from the mid-1980s. The complex features three pools, including a fifty-meter pool, two water slides, whirlpools, a slide, saunas, a Kneipp path, and other attractions. The sports facility urgently needs repair - important technological equipment is aging, and there are leaks in the roof. The glazing of the building is also inadequate, and the main pool's basin is leaking. Last year, the pool had over 460,000 visitors.

The plan includes a complete reconstruction of the complex, which will require its closure for two years. Work will start at the earliest in January next year. The city has not yet selected the company that will carry out the reconstruction of the pool. The competition will be announced at the earliest in June. The remaining costs of the reconstruction would ideally be paid by the city through grants. They would like to obtain 150 million from the Liberec Region. "Because many people from outside Liberec also visit the pool," said the mayor. The city also wants to apply for 150 million from the National Sports Agency and hopes to obtain a similar amount from the Operational Programme Environment. The mayor also believes that considering the development in the construction market, the reconstruction of the pool could cost less than the estimated 1.2 billion excluding tax. "Construction material prices are slightly decreasing again, so the current price of the pool should be 1.1 billion crowns," he added.