The leisure centre attracted over 750,000 visitors a year

An internal council investigation said more precautions could have been taken to protect customers and staff before it shut in November 2003.

Councillors were not told how much work was needed and there was "mistrust and hostility" between departments.

A review of council-owned buildings and new maintenance system are recommended.

I feel that the councillors of the day had as much of a duty as the officers to question the maintenance expenditure Dai Lloyd, Plaid Cymru AM

The 50-page report released on Friday was compiled by Swansea council's monitoring officers, who interviewed key officers and councillors on events leading up to the closure.

It concludes there was no real explanation why it was eventually closed on 3 November, 2003, as the extent of work needed and health and safety fears were largely known five months earlier.

The exact amount of money spent on maintaining the building is also not known.

The authority spent just over �2m on maintenance between 1996 and 2003, but that included work at the city's tennis centre, Morfa Stadium and St Helen's Baths.

The report makes 17 recommendations resulting from the popular centre's demise.

Electrical safety

These include a review of the condition of all council-owned buildings, the need to introduce a professionally managed maintenance system and a review of health and safety procedures.

In March 2001, senior electrical engineer Keith Fifield told the council's director of leisure David Evans that many items of equipment and the electrical services had 'deteriorated and were in very poor condition.'

The centre failed an electrical test in May 2002 and later in the year there were warnings 'no absolute guarantees can be given regarding the safety of employees or the public in terms of electrical safety.'

The centre was opened in 1977

In January 2003 the presence of asbestos was identified, although tests were regularly run to ensure it was not airborne.

But a condition survey delivered on 28 May described the centre as in a 'perilous and hazardous state".

The report authors could not pinpoint why the centre remained open for another five months, but very few officials were made aware of the problems as there was concern about publicity.

In October the authority announced the centre would close for two weeks for the building to be assessed, but some of those interviewed said this was a "sham" to soften the blow of closure to the public.

The report said councillors could not be blamed for not spending enough money on the centre because they were unaware of the problems.

But, speaking after seeing the report, Plaid Cymru AM Dai Lloyd believed senior members at the time should take their share of the blame.

He said: "I feel that the report concentrates far too heavily on what went on after 2001, but let us not forget that this building was built in 1977, and required maintenance work from the start.

"The situation did not just creep up on the council, and I feel that the councillors of the day had as much of a duty as the officers to question the maintenance expenditure."

The centre was one of the most popular visitor attractions in Wales, attracting over 750,000 people a year.

Seven months after it closed the ruling Labour group lost control of the city council for the first time in 28 years with the leisure centre seen as a key factor.

The authority, now run by a coalition headed by the Liberal Democrats, said on Friday it had already addressed many of the issues raised in the report.

A council spokesman said: "The report clearly sets out the events leading up to the closure of the leisure centre in November 2003.