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26
Jan
Leisure centre prices set for shake-up in Harrogate district
Membership prices at the district’s leisure centres could be set to change if senior councillors back proposals for a new membership scheme.
Under the proposals, which will be presented to members of North Yorkshire Council’s executive next Tuesday (February 3), a new two-tier system would be introduced to simplify pricing and enable members to use services across a wider area.
That would mean that any member of a tier-one location could use all the other services in that tier. Tier one would include Pateley Bridge, Starbeck, Bedale, Northallerton, Richmond, Selby, Skipton, Stokesley, Tadcaster and Thirsk and Sowerby.
Prices in tier two, which would include just Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, would be higher than they would be for tier one, as these facilities have received significantly more investment in recent years than other leisure centres across the county.
The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon.
No new gym-only members
Currently, all-inclusive membership at a Harrogate, Knaresborough or Ripon leisure centre costs £44.95 a month. This would increase to £46 a month.
Swim-only and gym-only memberships currently cost £33.95 a month, but would rise to £35, although gym-only membership would only be available to existing members.
The document states:
There are approximately 1,000 members across Harrogate sites who hold a gym-only membership. The proposal is to stop selling this option to new customers, however, for existing customers it is proposed to honour their current membership. These customers would continue to be subject to annual price increases.
In tier one – which includes Pateley Bridge and Starbeck – all-inclusive membership would cost £38 a month. Swim-only would cost £30, and gym-only, again for existing customers only, would cost £35.
Nidderdale Leisure and Wellbeing Centre in Pateley Bridge.
Currently, Active North Yorkshire members based at any of the district’s leisure centres may use facilities at any of the others, but it is unclear under the proposals whether tier one customers would be allowed to use facilities at more expensive tier-two centres.
Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s executive member for leisure, said:
A lot of work has been ongoing with our customers to learn what they want from their leisure and wellbeing hubs, and the message coming through loud and clear is that people want the option of having flexible memberships without being tied down to a contract.
We have taken that on board as we look to introduce a more streamlined and consistent structure across all our sites. These proposals will be carefully considered when members of the executive meet next week.
Starbeck Baths.
Pay-as-you-go options
Following the abolition of the region’s local councils – including Harrogate Borough Council – in 2023, leisure services have gradually been amalgamated into North Yorkshire Council’s Active North Yorkshire service.
Scarborough and Ryedale will join it in June 2027, but the other five operators have already completed the transition.
Nevertheless, more than 70 legacy membership types are available across the leisure sites owned and managed by the authority, which currently support 19,500 health and fitness members and 6,550 swimming learners.
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre.
The latest proposals would see fixed-term contracts scrapped in favour of pay-as-you-go options across all hubs, allowing customers greater flexibility to use facilities at an affordable price without committing to a membership.
All customers wanting to take up a membership would be able to pay by monthly, no‑contract direct debit or by an annual cash payment.
Senior concessions would be brought in line with state pension age.
A dedicated well-being membership would be available for people referred through specialist programmes who require tailored support.
Customers could also access virtual activities, including on-demand digital fitness advice and 24/7 online healthcare, without travelling to an Active North Yorkshire site – a feature designed to improve options for people living in rural areas.
If the proposals are approved, Active North Yorkshire will contact customers directly before making any changes to their leisure memberships.
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