08
Sept
Jack Laugher officially reopens Ripon’s £23 million leisure centre
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Six years after spades first hit the ground – and £13 million over budget – Ripon’s refurbished leisure centre has finally reopened.
Work to renovate the site, now known as Active North Yorkshire Ripon – The Jack Laugher Centre, started in 2019 but has been plagued with problems.
The refurbishment halted when a sinkhole was discovered at the site, which required major groundworks to be carried out.
But the leisure centre was officially reopened by North Yorkshire councillors and Ripon’s very own Olympian, Jack Laugher, this morning (September 8).
The lower ground floor of the North Yorkshire Council-owned site now features several exercise studios and changing rooms.
Up to 85 fitness classes, previously held at Hugh Ripley Hall, will be held at the leisure centre.
The cycling studio will be equipped to provide an “immersive cycling experience” and the sports hall will be available for bookings in the coming weeks, the council added.
The council’s executive member for leisure services, Cllr Simon Myers, said:
This is a wonderful moment for residents in Ripon and surrounding areas who now have access to these high-quality, modern facilities.
I’m delighted that the leisure centre in Ripon has now been brought in line with our other Active North Yorkshire facilities in neighbouring towns, providing a first-class health and wellbeing hub that will support communities to be more active.
This has been a challenging project which has required complex ground stabilisation works, and I would like to thank everyone – including customers and residents – for their patience and cooperation.
The six-lane swimming pool has been open since 2022.
The original budget for the entire project, set by the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council, was £10.2 million. The scheme was expected to be completed within just 17 months.
However, six years on the budget has risen to £23 million.
Whilst the remediation work was carried out, a cabin in the car park was used as a temporary gym.
Cllr Andrew Williams, who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside on North Yorkshire Council, added:
This has been a long-running project that started under the former borough council and has now been successfully delivered by North Yorkshire Council.
I am pleased that residents in Ripon and the surrounding area can now make the most of these new state-of-the-art facilities, and I would like to thank the council for its commitment and dedication to resolving the complex issues that arose.
Jack Laugher at the reopening of Active North Yorkshire Ripon – The Jack Laugher Centre.
The six-lane swimming pool at the site has been open since 2022.
Former Ripon Grammar School student and Olympic diving champion, Jack Laugher, said:
I am so proud to be here at the re-opening as it means a great deal to me being in my home city.
My journey began in Ripon as I learnt to swim here before achieving so much success in my sport.
But this is not just about elite sport, this is about engaging with all communities to be able to improve their health and wellbeing in such a fantastic new venue.
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