Leisure centres to receive £40m investment

Richmond Swimming Pool will receive £1.1m of the money so it can be reopened, the council says

A total of £40m is to be invested in "transforming" North Yorkshire's leisure centres, the council has said.

The funding would be used to renovate swimming pools and changing rooms, as well as improve gym facilities, according to North Yorkshire Council.

The money would also be spent on reopening Richmond Swimming Pool, which closed in April after part of its ceiling fell down, a spokesperson said.

The proposed investment comes after the council took over the running of leisure services from the former district and borough councils.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, four leisure centres in Pickering, Selby, Skipton and Whitby would share £36m to become health and wellbeing hubs.

The sites would benefit from improved pool accessibility, better reception and public areas and additional studio space, the council said.

Meanwhile, a further £3m would be used to update gym and fitness equipment across 12 leisure sites operated by the authority.

'Massive statement'

Under the plan, Richmond Swimming Pool would receive £1.1m to reopen next year, which would involve replacing the ceiling and carrying out work on the plant room.

Over 3,000 people previously signed a petition to keep the pool open following the issues with its ceiling earlier this year.

Councillor Simon Myers, whose responsibilities include leisure services, said: "We are committed to making sure everyone in North Yorkshire has the best opportunities possible to stay active or take up exercise to help to promote both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

"This proposed investment is a massive statement in providing this commitment, and the plans would see funding made available to key sites across the county."

Myers added that an "awful lot of work" had gone into the plans, which would see leisure services delivered under the new Active North Yorkshire banner.

The investment is due to be discussed by members of the housing and leisure overview and scrutiny committee on 23 September, before being considered by senior councillors on the executive committee later this year.

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