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19
Apr 2021
Questions over Starbeck Baths as council fails to give opening date
Questions are being asked over the continued closure of Starbeck Baths. The 150 year old pool has yet to open after restrictions were eased a week ago.
Harrogate Borough Council said it is waiting for further government guidance regarding social distancing. It said the layout and age of the building makes it more difficult to reopen than larger venues.
With Knaresborough pool in need of repairs and the opening of the new facility in Ripon delayed, much of the district has no swimming facilities after lockdown eased.
This August all of the district's baths will move under the control of the council's arms-length company, Brimham's Active.
As part of the reorganisation, a council report released last summer said "the future of Starbeck Baths would need to be considered" which led to suspicion it would be closed permanently.
The Liberal Democrat Starbeck ward councillor, Philip Broadbank said he wants a better explanation as to why it's still closed.
He said:
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The four-lane pool is the second oldest council-run pool in the UK and pre-covid was very popular with local residents.
Some have taken to social media to question its continued closure including Chris Watt who said on Twitter "I hope Harrogate Borough Council reopen Starbeck pool soon. Our little boy has been missing is swimming lessons over the last year and it's a great community asset."
When the Stray Ferret asked the council about Starbeck Baths it said:
Previously, the council leader Richard Cooper has said whilst in leadership the Baths would not be closed.
A Freedom of Information request by The Stray Ferret, last year, showed the bill for running the baths increased from £234,193 in 2018/19 to an estimated £239,370 last year.
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