BREAKING: Ripon pool opening delayed until January after fault found
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Last updated Nov 26, 2021

Ripon’s new swimming pool will not open until January after a fault was found with the lining of the pool during testing.

The six-lane pool on Dallamires Lane was due to open to swimmers on December 8 but will now be delayed to an unconfirmed date in January 2022.

Harrogate Borough Council said pool manufacturer Myrtha will be carrying out additional work to fix the problem, at no extra cost to the council.

Conservative councillor Stanley Lumley, HBC’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said:

“New swimming pools go through a significant amount of testing to ensure they are safe to use for years to come and provide the best experience for the customer.

“During the testing period of the new six-lane 25metre swimming pool at the leisure centre on Dallamires Road in Ripon, an issue was identified with the lining of the pool.

We understand this is disappointing but would like to reassure you we are working as quickly and as thoroughly as possible to open the pool as soon as we can.”

Harrogate Borough Council closed Ripon Spa Baths last month in anticipation of the new pool opening. It now means there is nowhere to have a swim in Ripon until the new year.


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The council has not released details of exactly what the fault is.  It’s not clear if it is related to the ground the pool has been built on.

However, concerns have again been raised recently that the site could be permanently plagued by the threat of sinkholes.

Earlier this month after a council-commissioned report by engineering company Stantec outlined measures to mitigate the effects of a void that was detected last year.

Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, called for the council to postpone a decision on the measures and give greater consideration to finding an alternative site.

Senior councillors voted to press ahead with its plan to carry out further work while opening most of the site.

The Stray Ferret revealed today that Ripon’s new leisure project is now more than £4m over budget.