Harrogate Borough Council’s commitment to investing in the district’s leisure and sporting facilities will see Knaresborough Swimming Pool temporarily close this December while it undergoes its first major refurbishment since opening in 1990.
Harrogate Borough Council will spend £120,000 on the renovation work which will improve the customer experience and reduce energy costs. The revamp, will include refurbishment of the changing rooms, toilet facilities, showers, entrance and reception areas, repairs to lockers, and retiling around the pool area. In addition the boilers, lighting systems and windows will be replaced to improve the building’s energy efficiency.
- The swimming pool will close on Monday 8 December with the work expected to take a minimum of two weeks to complete
Swimming classes will be cancelled during this period, however the council’s other pools will be open as normal for customers to access swimming sessions and for members of Knaresborough Swimming Pool to use as part of their membership package. In addition, Starbeck Baths will open early during this period in order to offer customers additional early bird swimming sessions.
Knaresborough Swimming Pool is not the only council owned sporting facility to undergo a refresh in time for the new year. Ripon Spa Baths will also close between 24 December–1 January, with the changing rooms, reception, entrance and sauna receiving a £10,000 overhaul.
Councillor Pat Jones, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sports said: It is important that we encourage participation in sport and fitness as part of a wider health and well-being programme. To do this, we need to ensure that residents and visitors have access to facilities which meet their expectations.
The council is fully committed to improving our leisure facilities. Knaresborough Swimming Pool is now 24 years old and it had begun to look a little tired and in need of some improvements. The major work which is about to be undertaken will without doubt have a positive effect on the customer experience. It will also allow us to introduce measures which will reduce running costs for the facility. While the refurbishment at Ripon Spa Baths is on a smaller scale, I’m sure that the improvements will be appreciated by customers using that facility from January.
It is unfortunate that the pools will need to close in December to complete the works, however we will do our utmost to ensure that the improved facilities will re-open as soon as possible, so that they can be fully enjoyed by residents and visitors to Knaresborough and Ripon.
