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15
Jul
Completion date for Ripon's £23 million leisure centre finally revealed
Six years after the first spades hit the ground – and £23 million later – Ripon’s refurbished leisure centre is finally nearing completion.
Work to renovate the centre, 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.
However, North Yorkshire Council, which owns the site, today said the renovation had reached its final stages.
The lower ground floor, which will include a cycling studio, two group exercise studios, a sports hall, new changing rooms and a meeting room, is expected to open in September.
Group fitness classes that have temporarily run from Hugh Ripley Hall will also return into the centre.
Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s executive member for leisure services, said:
This is fantastic news for communities who will soon have full access to these high-quality, modern facilities that we hope will enhance users’ health and wellbeing.
Everyone has shown amazing patience while these crucial ground stabilisation works have been completed and I would like to thank residents for their cooperation throughout.
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 Myers added:
This has been a challenging scheme, but it is one we committed to as it ensures a vital facility will continue to be available for the benefit of residents of Ripon and beyond.
We are promoting health and wellbeing for our communities with the launch of Active North Yorkshire, which will mean that all of our leisure centres are managed by ourselves to ensure that there is a coordinated approach for our service across the whole of the county for the first time.
Cllr Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservatives and Independents group who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside division on North Yorkshire Council, welcomed news of the work nearing completion.
He said:
I am pleased that the renovations are nearing completion and that the fully-refurbished leisure centre will soon reopen for residents to enjoy.
This is a welcome milestone in what has been a long-running project, and I’m grateful for the commitment shown by North Yorkshire Council in resolving issues with the project which was originally started under the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council for the benefit of residents in Ripon and the surrounding area.
The six-lane swimming pool at the site has been open since 2022.
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