More than £50,000 will be claimed on Hertsmere Borough Council's insurance policy to make up for income lost since the Venue's lights broke in March.

Since the lights broke information about what went wrong, and what the council intends to do to about it, has been limited. At a recent meeting councillors agreed to spend another £40,000 repairing the system, but there are calls for a permanent replacement.

The company that manufactured and installed the lighting system, Borehamwood-based Reggiani Lighting, could be called upon to replace the system, and the council has not ruled out suing for compensation.

At a recent council meeting, Elstree councillor Morris Bright said an announcement should be made soon, to reassure people that the council had not forgotten about the problems at the £18million leisure centre.

"It is important that people are kept informed. We need to say we are doing our best to sort it out. The clocks have now gone back, but we have still got temporary lights outside the building."

November 7, 2001 14:19