behind this brand new swimming pool in Seine-Saint-Denis, endless setbacks

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The inhabitants of Pierrefitte-en-Seine (Seine-Saint-Denis), children in the lead, were impatiently awaiting his arrival. But, two years after its inauguration, the Claire-Supiot paddling aquatic center. This brand new sports equipment 3,000 square meterslocated in a town of 30,000 inhabitants, multiplies the technical setbacks and the closures since its opening to the public on May 27, 2022.

Flooded basement

A new incident occurred in October 2024, a few weeks after the start of the school year. Nearly two months later, on the social network Instagram, the center reported a problem with “ sealing of a porthole “. The latter, having “given way”, triggered “a leak” and “the flooding of the basement”. As a result, the basin remains inaccessible for visitors.

Asked by Paris newsthe office of the mayor PS Michel Fourcaderegrets this dysfunction. “It wasn’t planned. The company responsible for the work found other problems with the portholes. These are very specific pieces. We are very pressing with society,” we are told within the community.

The delivery of the Claire Supiot swimming pool, in homage to the Paralympic swimmer and European champion, had nevertheless aroused hope . Firstly for the children and families of Pierrefittoise, who did not benefit from nautical infrastructure on a municipal scale. Then, for the department, under-equipped and faced with an over-representation of children not knowing how to swimupon entering college.

However, the equipment, included in a plan launched in 2016, quickly showed signs of fragility, despite its investment estimated at 17 million euros
. In January 2023, the technical room was flooded due to poorly executed draining. A few months later, it was a burst pipe. Each time, a forced closure. Enough to irritate municipal councilor SE Romain Potel, member of the opposition.

No reopening in the short term

“We are quite helpless. The swimming pool is closed 50% of the time,” laments Romain Potel, contacted by Paris news.

“These are empty promises. Especially for school children, who have reserved slots”

The elected official also points out “ opacity » from the municipal executive, whom he accuses of delivering “information in dribs and drabs”, particularly on the causes of failures. “We talk about damage, sealing or pipes, but we see that there are numerous defectsaround the structure” supplied by the Italian manufacturer Myrtha Pools, also supplier ofOlympic poolsof Paris La Défense Arena.

For the mayor’s office, the prospects for reopening appear uncertain, as long as “the swimming pool is not replenished with water”. The Pierrefittois therefore risk spending the Christmas holidayswithout being able to swim. For its part, the site manager, Plaine commune, did not respond to requests fromParis news.

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