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19

Jul 2021

Last Updated: 19/07/2021
Community
Community

Frustration grows over diving board closures at Harrogate's Hydro

by Thomas Barrett

| 19 Jul, 2021
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As Ripon's Jack Laugher prepares for the Olympics, aspiring divers at his former pool in Harrogate remain unable to use its diving boards because cracks, found in November last year, still need repairing.

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The parent of a diver who uses The Hydro has expressed frustration that two diving boards have been out of action for over six months, forcing members of a local club to travel to West Yorkshire to train.

Olympic divers such as Jack Laugher trained at the Harrogate Borough Council-owned pool but aspiring athletes have been unable to use the boards since November last year.

The pool, which caters for high board and springboard divers, reopened on April 12 but diving remains affected after the council found cracks in the concrete that supports the boards during a routine inspection.

Neil Blackburn told the Stray Ferret that his 11-year-old daughter is part of the Dive Harrogate club that trained twice a week at the pool pre-covid restrictions.

He said divers have been forced to train in Shipley, near Bradford, and believes there is "little appetite" to get the Hydro diving boards fixed. He estimates the cost of repairs could be a quarter of a million pounds.

Mr Blackburn said:

"The club are really good at keeping us informed and they have full backing of Swim England, but it does appear there is little appetite to get the concrete towers repaired from either the Hydro or the council any time soon.
"As always this appears to be about funding and it’s starting to become a worry that they may not bother at all. The estimate for the repair is £250k. For a club which has produced divers who are currently in Tokyo for the Olympics this seems a real shame."
"Unfortunately, during a routine inspection of the diving board platform at The Hydro in Harrogate, cracks in the concrete were discovered.
"A further independent survey was carried out to establish the stability, integrity and durability of the diving structure.
"Results show that the diving platform should not be used until work has been carried out.
"We are exploring possible options and will have an update in due course.”