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24
Jan 2024
How well are Harrogate and Knaresborough's new leisure centres doing?
New leisure centres opened in Harrogate and Knaresborough late last year.
Now that both have been operating for some time, the Stray Ferret set out to discover how well they're doing.
The centres were part of a £47.9 million investment into local leisure provision by Brimhams Active, which Harrogate Borough Council set up to run leisure services.
Brimhams is now owned by North Yorkshire Council, which plans to abolish it and bring leisure services back under direct control.
Harrogate exceeds target
Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre has exceeded its membership target in the months since it reopened, North Yorkshire Council said.
The leisure centre, which was formerly known as the Hydro, re-opened its doors in September following an 18-month transformation.
The £13.5 million refurbishment at Harrogate included creating a 400-square metre fitness centre, a new sauna and steam room, improved reception and café areas, as well as an overhaul of the existing spin, leisure and swimming facilities.
The Jennyfields site also boasts three swimming pools: a 25-metre lane pool, a diving pool and a children’s pool. But the refurbishment wasn’t plain sailing and ended up £1.5 million over budget – so has it paid off?
A spokesperson for the council told the Stray Ferret the membership target for Harrogate, up to January 2024, was 2,060. It currently has 3,079 members – more than 1,000 above target.
Cllr Simon Myers, the council's executive member for culture, arts and housing, said he was “in awe” of the site’s success so far:
Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre's pool.
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre opened its doors in December. It was built on the former Knaresborough Pool site and cost £17.5 million.
Work began in April 2022 and the centre was originally due to open in summer last year, but the opening date was repeatedly delayed until last month.
Although it is early days, so far it has not had the same success as Harrogate.
The council membership target was 1,400, but so far there have been 1,164 sign ups.
Cllr Myers attributed the shortfall to opening during the Christmas period:
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre's immersive spin studio.
The Knaresborough site offers a six-lane 25-metre swimming pool, a leisure pool and slide, and a 60-station fitness suite.
Like Harrogate, it also boasts a sauna and steam room, a café, a group cycling studio and a studio for fitness classes.
Cllr Myers said:
Cllr Myers also said 500 people visit the leisure centres in Harrogate and Knaresborough each day.
Starbeck Baths and Ripon leisure centre
The Stray Ferret also wanted to know what plans, if any, are in place for Starbeck Baths, which has long been under the spotlight as the council's next potential project.
We asked what the success of both Harrogate and Knaresborough would mean for the future of the Starbeck site, to which Mr Myers responded:
The Stray Ferret has also closely followed the saga surrounding Ripon Leisure Centre.
The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre has not only faced the most bumps – or holes – in the road, but also the biggest expenditure of the three.
Although the site officially reopened in March 2022, Ripon residents are yet to see the full transformation.
An article last week reported the original budget for the project awarded to contractor Willmott Dixon in November 2019 was £10.2 million and it was scheduled for delivery in 17 months.
But £18 million and more than four years later, members are still using a temporary gym in the car park and attending fitness classes at Hugh Ripley Hall in the city centre.
Read more:
- No.3: Leisure centre revolution in Harrogate and Knaresborough
- When will Ripon's £18 million leisure centre be fully open
- 'Our leisure centres will be the envy of North Yorkshire'
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