(UPDATED) Cheshire Pool Closed - Again - After Bubble Collapses Under Snow

The February blizzard has many in town digging out and dreaming of warmer weather, but after snow caused the bubble over the Cheshire Community Pool to collapse late Friday, there will be no reprievefor town residents locally.

Friday's snowstorm brought heavy snows and winds that created an uneven drift, Cheshire Town Officials said, bringing down the bubble with a gigantic tear and exposing the inside of the community pool to the elements of the storm. The area is currently cordoned off to prevent visitors from entering the area.

Officials were unable to provide any details on the extent of the damage Saturday morning. Multiple residents stated that the bubble had extensive damage including a tear that measured as much as 40 feet.

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Over the past three years, the bubble has been plagued with issues. Snow collapsed the facility in January 2011 as several storms mounted snow and ice on top and the structure was unable to hold the sheer weight.

Elected officials mulled over whether to replace the facility before ultimately deciding by a 7-2 vote in August 2011 to have the bubble repaired. Tom Ruocco and James Sima voting against the approval which allowed the council agreed to accept just over $284,000 in insurance reimbursements to replace the inflatable bubble that collapsed during a January snow storm

"We made a decent and fair settlement (with the insurance company); we will be made whole," Council Chairman Tim Slocum said in August 2012. "There is no expectation this will happen overnight. It will be the end of November for the completed structure."

In repairing the bubble, the council also voted unanimously to use nearly $127,800 from it's capital, non-recurring account to pay for a new energy efficient blower which inflates the bubble. The funding also covered costs of peripheral items such as a tarp system, snow sensor and utility hook-ups.

But despite reopening last year, the bubble went down again in September during a storm and the snow sensor was unable to detect the quick weight caused by more than two feet of snow overnight. It was repaired and had been functioning without issue until Friday afternoon.

There has been no indication by officials Saturday as to whether the bubble is repairable or a new bubble would be necessary.

Should the town look to repair the bubble or with the constant issues in recent years, is it now time to go in a new direction? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Editor's Note: The start time of the article, 1:26 p.m., was changed to allow it to hit the morning newsletters.