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28
Feb 2023
Last Updated: 28/02/2023
Group estimates 1,000 Ripon children are in need of swimming lessons
A group that unsuccessfully lobbied Harrogate Borough Council in a bid to have a learner pool built in Ripon estimates that up to 1,000 of the city's children have yet to be taught how to swim.
In 2018, before planning permission was granted for construction of the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre, Ripon Pool Action Group (RPAG) called for a learner pool to be included in the multi-million pound development at Dallamires Lane.
Though that call was rejected, the group continues to highlight the need for families in Ripon to have public facilities available that are close at hand and affordable.
At the February meeting of Ripon City Council, RPAG secretary Tim Tribe and Andrea McAuslan presented the case for a learner pool to be included in any future plans that the new unitary authority North Yorkshire Council, may have for the development of leisure facilities in the city.
Mr Tribe said:
"We recognise that there are currently serious pressures on public finances. We are not asking for a learner pool to be built now, but we want to ensure that the new unitary authority is properly briefed on this situation.
"Ripon is the only place of its size in North Yorkshire with no learner pool. Thirsk, Tadcaster, Northallerton, Stokesley and Skipton all have separate pools and we ask how far do you think our children should travel to learn such an important life skill, when we live in an area surrounded by water?"
Mr Tribe added:
"We carried out a survey using Survey Monkey and this showed that there are circa 1,000 children in Ripon in need of swimming lessons."
Because of the lack of a public learner pool in Ripon, Andrea and Ian McAuslan have been taking their five-year-old twins to Thirsk.
Ms McAuslan said:
"We have been making the 22-mile round trip and are fortunate that we can afford to do this, but many other families are not so lucky.
"Seeing how our children reacted when they realised that they could go in the little pool at Thirsk was a real eye opener. It has been great to see their confidence grow as they learn to swim while they play in the shallow water."
Ms McAuslan, who is also chair of the junior section of the Ripon-based NYP TriStars, triathlon club, added:
"Quite apart from the need to teach children to swim in a city that has three rivers, a canal and other areas of water, it is a skill that is fundamental to opening up other avenues for them."
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