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07
Feb 2022
Still no opening date for Ripon’s new swimming pool
There is still no opening date for Ripon’s new swimming pool as the multi-million pound project continues to run over budget and into more construction problems.
Harrogate Borough Council had originally aimed to open the pool in May 2021, but the project is now nine months overdue and £4 million over budget.
This is after several construction problems, most recently including a fault in the lining of the pool. An underground void has also been discovered at the adjoining leisure centre site which has prompted an £110,000 investigation.
Cllr Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at the council, previously said he anticipated the pool would open in January.
But the council has now confirmed that a revised opening date has still not been set.
Speaking in December, Cllr Lumley said:
Read more:
- Swimming club ‘mortified’after Harrogate council hikes fee for new pool
- Ripon council leader calls swimming club price hike ‘disgusting’
The council awarded a £10 million contract for the pool build to construction firm Willmott Dixon in January 2020. As of last month, £13,422,309 had been spent on the project with a further £584,690 allocated.
The leisure centre
This includes money spent on investigation works after the underground void was discovered at the site. It was found in 2020, but only became public knowledge last May when the investigation launched.
These works are currently underway and are likely to continue into spring.
Gypsum deposits
Initial studies suggest there has been a “significant deterioration” of the ground beneath the older half of the centre which was built in 1995 and like much of Ripon sits on gypsum deposits.
It is likely that ground strengthening works will be needed, although the council has insisted the leisure centre is still “safe to use”.
The new pool is being built as a replacement for Ripon Spa Baths which closed in November, leaving the city without a pool for the last three months.
The 116-year-old baths was put up for sale by the council in a move which sparked concerns that the venue could lose its community use and also prompted Ripon City Council to successfully apply for the building to be nominated as an asset of community value.
This protected status means any sale has now been put on hold for several months to allow time for community bids to come forward.
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