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Jul 2020

Last Updated: 24/07/2020

Sport

Harrogate diving club pleads for a date to resume training

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 24 Jul, 2020

Harrogate District Diving Club is frustrated with the council as it is yet to receive a confirmed date to resume training. Indoor pools are able to reopen from tomorrow, but the council is yet to confirm when local facilities will reopen.

Harrogate District Diving Club has expressed its frustration that it has not been given a date for training to resume at the Hydro.

Indoor swimming pools are allowed to reopen from tomorrow but Harrogate Borough Council is yet to confirm when it will open its pools. The diving club has been left unable to make plans or reassure its members.

The lack of a decision has left the club worrying about the impact on its members' mental health. As a team sport, diving develops social as well as physical skills and, after months of lockdown, the club is desperate to give its members a date to look forward to.

Leanne Jalland, chair of the diving club, said:

"It is difficult to make plans without a date to return to training in the water. We have to take each week by week, and come up with a variety of ways to keep our divers engaged and motivated but this is incredibly difficult. The response I have had from a lot parents is dismay and frustration, which is understandable.

"I am confident that by working with Swim England and the council we could ensure a safe return once it is allowed. The club has received no official communication from the Hydro about any update for returning to the pool and only received a response from the council after pressing for a date to return last week."

The club has trained in Harrogate for over 20 years with sporting stars including Olympic gold medallist Jack Laugher learning to dive at the club. It is a tradition the club hopes to continue once it starts up again.

The council has said its reviewing the safety measures in place at the Hydro before opening.

Currently the club's two coaches, both council employees, have been redeployed to other essential services by the council. The club has asked for one of its coaches to return to the team once the pool reopens.

Boroughbridge junior football club is calling for more girls and disabled players to join its teams.

Harrogate council has approved an overhaul of its leisure services to a new company.

A council spokesperson said:

"We are working hard to reintroduce leisure facilities for all our residents – not just the diving club – but we need to make sure this is done in line with government guidelines so that our customers, and staff, are kept safe. We will then look at what additional services can be offered over the coming weeks.

“But this will only happen if staff can be relieved from providing statutory services. Any decision to do so will need to be carefully considered and the potential benefit for those people using leisure facilities balanced against the needs of residents and vulnerable people. The diving club has received several emails explaining this position already."

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Harrogate diving club pleads for a date to resume training

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