New photos have shown Knaresborough’s £17 million leisure centre taking shape.
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre is due to open in November. It will replace Knaresborough Pool, which closed a month ago.
Like the old site, it will have a pool and a fun pool with a slide. But unlike the old site it will also have a a studio, gym, steam room and sauna.
Councillors were given a tour of the site today.
Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat on Knaresborough Town Council and North Yorkshire Council, shared some photos on his Twitter account. He said:
“It’s a huge investment for the town with lots more facilities than the previous pool.”
Cllr Walker added green technology would save about 50% of the running costs and 85% of the old pool will be recycled after demolition.
The children’s playground and zip wire is due to be reinstated.
The new sauna
The steam room
The site is due to open in November.
The leisure centre will be run by Brimhams Active, a leisure company controlled by North Yorkshire Council.
Brimhams reopened the former Harrogate Hydro as Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre this month.
Look out for an interview with Mark Tweedie, the managing director of Brimhams Active, this weekend.
Read more:
- Knaresborough councillors reject call to prevent second BID vote
- Knaresborough council has ‘long shopping list’ of services it could deliver
Ripon leisure centre halts price increase due to ongoing work
A price increase at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon has been halted after complaints from customers prompted a councillor to intervene.
Brimhams Active, the company that runs leisure centres in the Harrogate district on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, recently increased its monthly membership fees.
The council has spent £45 million on upgrading facilities in the district and this week re-opened the former Hydro under the new name Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre.
But the decision to increase the monthly membership fee at Ripon by £6.50 led to a backlash because customers are still using a temporary gym in the car park due to the delayed completion of ground stabilisation work on the old part of the building.
Group exercise classes are being provided offsite at Hugh Ripley Hall.
Work remains ongoing at Ripon leisure centre.
Mark Tweedie, managing director at Brimhams Active, said recent upgrades meant it now offered “significantly improved swim, gym and group exercise opportunities” but membership fees had increased.
He added:
“Although significant investment has been made to deliver a new state of the art leisure facility in Ripon comprising of a new swimming pool, sauna/steam experience and new gym equipment, following customer feedback we have acknowledged that the membership offer remains comparatively limited due to the delayed works to refurbish the ground floor facilities which will include upgraded group exercise studios.
“Therefore, we have committed to holding back on increasing the price of our all-inclusive membership for Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre customers until we are confident the offer is comparable to our other facilities.”
Cllr Andrew Williams
Cllr Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservative and Independents group on North Yorkshire Council who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside, raised residents’ concerns with the council.
Cllr Williams said the council had agreed not to proceed with the £6.50 monthly price hike in Ripon. He said:
“I welcome following my intervention the decision to withdraw plans to increase the fees in September and to revisit the whole situation when the facilities in Ripon are comparable with those elsewhere in the area.
“This is a clear example of the council listening to the concerns raised by residents and seeking to respond positively and swiftly to address their concerns.”
Cllr Williams added:
“Any future decision on the fees at Ripon leisure centre will have to be subject of appropriate consultation.”
‘Fantastic value’
Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre opened this week.
Mr Tweedie said Brimhams Active’s all-inclusive monthly membership fee, which allows unlimited swim, gym and group exercise at all of its facilities, “represents fantastic value which we have been able to achieve despite significantly increased operational costs”. It costs £44.95 a month or £35.95 for concessions at non-Ripon sites.
Besides new facilities in Ripon and Harrogate, the gym at Nidderdale Leisure and Wellness Centre in Pateley Bridge has been refurbished and the new Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre is due to open this year.
Mr Tweedie added:
“We also bringing a new leading edge customer offer for people who take out a Brimhams Active membership. This involves a range of new, more personalised, services designed to support members with a holistic approach to help them achieve their health and wellbeing goals to be their best selves.”
Read more:
- Ripon Canal to celebrate 250th anniversary with open day on Saturday
- Ripon school ‘heartbroken’ over death of six-year-old pupil
New Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre opens
The newly refurbished Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre opened its doors today after a £13.5 million project.
The facility, which was previously called the Harrogate Hydro, had been closed since April last year as part of a renovation scheme.
Now, the centre off Jennyfield Drive is open under a new name.
The refurbishment included a 400 square metre fitness centre, a new sauna and steam suite, improved reception and café, as well an overhaul of the existing gym, spin, leisure and swimming facilities.
Local man Alan Harwood was among those visiting the newly opened leisure centre this morning.
He told the Stray Ferret he had never been to the facility before, but took up one of the swimming membership offers advertised by Brimhams Active, which operates the site on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, as part of the opening.
Mr Harwood said:
“It looks good. I had never been to the Hydro before but wanted to try it out for swimming.”
The centre is open for swimming from 6.30am until 9pm Monday to Thursday, 6.30am until 8pm on a Friday and 6.30am until 7pm on a weekend.
Meanwhile, the gym will be open from 6.15am until 9.30pm Monday to Thursday, 6.15am until 7.30pm on a Friday and 6.15am until 6.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Prices include £5.45 for an adult swim, but there are also membership schemes available at £33.95 a month.
The centre also offers all inclusive memberships, which includes access to the gym, for £44.95 a month or £35.95 for concessions.
Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, said:
Another Harrogate Hydro delay appears to rule out summer holiday swimming“There will be an increase to membership fees, but we are committed to keeping fees as low as possible and we have additional discounts for students, people who are unemployed, disabled or aged over 65.
“The increase delivers an all-inclusive membership fee with access to unlimited swim, gym and group exercise at all Brimhams facilities that remains lower than our 2021 prices, as we temporarily reduced prices upon reopening after covid.”
Harrogate Hydro looks set to stay closed throughout the school summer holidays after another delay.
The Hydro closed in April last year for what was supposed to be a nine-month refurbishment costing £11.9 million.
But the scheduled re-opening in January this year did not happen and in its latest update in May, North Yorkshire Council said the cost of the scheme had risen to £13.5 million and customers would be welcomed back in August.
That suggested families would be able to use the swimming pool for at least some of the summer holidays, which start next week and end on September 4.
Brimhams Active, the council-controlled company that operates leisure centres, is now advertising the re-opening.
Its adverts say the Hydro, which will be renamed Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre, is now “anticipated to open early September 2023”.
The news will be a blow to families as the school holidays start next week.
The Stray Ferret asked the council if it could confirm the re-opening date and explain the reason for the latest delay. We also asked if the new £17.6 million Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre was still due to open in November.
A council spokesperson said it would provide an update after a site visit with contractors today.
Read more:
- Harrogate Hydro reopening delayed until summer
- New opening dates for Harrogate and Knaresborough leisure centres revealed
Starbeck Baths to reopen today
Starbeck Baths is to reopen today — five weeks after it closed due to an “unforeseen mechanical failure”.
In a Facebook post yesterday, the swimming pool said it would welcome customers from 7.30am.
It added:
“The work to complete the replacement of the filter and the subsequent safety checks have been completed and earlier today, we received the results from the tests, giving us the green light to open.”
The pool is run by the North Yorkshire Council-controlled Brimhams Active, which manages leisure facilities in the Harrogate district.
It had previously indicated it would be closed until late May.
Besides swimming sessions, it provides swimming lessons and caters for children’s parties.
Read more:
- Starbeck Baths to be closed until late May
- Memorial service for Starbeck pianist who ‘brought joy to the community’
Starbeck Baths announced today it expects to re-open on May 15.
The Victorian swimming pool closed on April 6, just before the Easter weekend, due to an “unforeseen mechanical failure”.
Its closure was keenly felt by local swimmers because of the long-term closure of The Hydro in nearby Harrogate for a delayed £11.8 million upgrade.
But the baths posted on social media today:
“We are excited to let you know that we took a big step towards reopening today. The brand new filter has been installed and switched on for the first time. Stage one done.
“The second stage, our bit is underway, known as heat and treat which will take a week to 10 days, which is about the same time it will take for our water test results to arrive.
“If everything goes to plan, fingers and toes crossed we will be able to welcome you back to the pool from Monday 15th May.”
The pool is run by the North Yorkshire Council-controlled Brimhams Active, which manages leisure facilities in the Harrogate district.
The new filter system
Read more:
- ‘Good’ Ofsted rating for ‘happy and welcoming’ Starbeck nursery
- Renewed call to move Harrogate ‘little temple’ to Starbeck
Starbeck Baths to be closed until late May
Starbeck Baths looks set to be closed for several weeks due to an “unforeseen mechanical failure”.
The Victorian swimming pool closed on Thursday last week. Its website says an air leak in the pool plant equipment caused poor water clarity.
The timing was unfortunate because of the ongoing Easter school holidays as well as the long-term closure of The Hydro in nearby Harrogate for a delayed £11.8 million upgrade.
Brimhams Active, which was set up by Harrogate Borough Council but is now run by North Yorkshire Council, manages leisure facilities in the Harrogate district.
North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for culture, arts and leisure, Jo Ireland, said:
“We are working with Brimhams Active to resolve an unforeseen mechanical failure.
“The situation requires the expertise of specialist contractors, and a work schedule has been set to address the issue.
“During the downtime, other important planned maintenance work will also be carried out to ensure the facilities are in top condition when the baths reopen.
“Although we regret any inconvenience this may have caused, we anticipate that Starbeck swimming baths will be back in operation by late May.”
Read more:
- ‘No plan or intention’ to sell Starbeck Baths, says council
- Sneak Peek: New Starbeck pub aims to bring ‘community feel’ back
Temporary gym installed at Ripon leisure centre
The building that will house the £300,000 temporary gym at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre has been located in the car park near the entrance to the swimming pool.
The prefabricated structure was put into position yesterday morning using a long-reach mobile crane and while the opening date has yet to be confirmed, a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Council told the Stray Ferret:
“I believe it will be towards the end of the month (April) that customers will start to use the alternative gym.”
The temporary building
Once up and running, the temporary facility will enable the closure of the existing gym on the upper floor of the 28-year-old leisure centre next to the new swimming pool that opened last March.
This will pave the way for ground stabilisation works costing £3.5million to be carried out under the building.
The temporary gym, operated by Brimhams Active on behalf of the newly-formed North Yorkshire Council unitary authority, will be fitted out with Technogym equipment currently available in the existing leisure and wellness centre, and expert advice and guidance will be available.
Customers will still be able to use the changing and shower facilities in the new pool area – as well as the sauna and steam suite – as they will remain open as normal.
Group exercise classes will also continue to be provided at Hugh Ripley Hall.
Read more:
Last weekend’s planned installation of the £300,000 temporary gym in the car park at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon did not go ahead.
As reported in the Stray Ferret, the installation was scheduled to take place between March 25 and 26, with the leisure centre and adjacent children’s playground shut during the operation.
However, a spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said this morning:
“Unfortunately, due to the predicted high winds, the installation was postponed until this weekend.”
The spokesperson added the leisure centre and playground is now due to close at 6pm on Saturday (April 1) until Monday morning (April 3) to ensure the gym can be put in place.
Its Installation will enable the closure of the existing gym on the upper floor of the 28-year-old leisure centre next to the new swimming pool that opened last March, paving the way for ground stabilisation works costing £3.5million to be carried out under the building.
A week ago the council, which runs the site through its leisure company Brimhams Active, said the temporary facility would open next month:
In its statement, the council added:
“The gym will include the high-quality, state-of-the-art Technogym equipment currently available in the existing leisure and wellness centre, as well as expert advice and guidance from the Brimhams Active team.
“Customers will still be able to use the changing and shower facilities in the new pool area – as well as the sauna and steam suite – as they will remain open as normal.
“Group exercise classes will also continue to be provided at Hugh Ripley Hall.”
A new council is set to take over in the Harrogate district next week.
Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council will make way for North Yorkshire Council on April 1.
Brimhams Active, an arms length company owned by Harrogate Borough Council, currently runs leisure services in the district.
In this article, we explain what will happen to leisure facilities under the new North Yorkshire Council.
Who currently runs leisure facilities in the district?
Currently, Brimhams Active operates leisure facilities in the Harrogate district.
The company was set up in August 2020 to run swimming pools and leisure centres.
This includes Harrogate Hydro, Knaresborough Pool, Starbeck Baths and the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon.
Brimhams Active has also overseen major projects, such as the redevelopment of the Harrogate Hydro swimming pool and the construction of new facilities in Ripon and Knaresborough.
What will happen under the new council?
As of April 1, Brimhams Active will transfer over to North Yorkshire Council.
The new council will add Selby’s leisure services to the Brimhams Active portfolio from September 2024.
North Yorkshire Council will also undertake a £120,000 review of leisure services with the aim of creating a countywide model for delivering leisure and sport by 2027.
While people who use the centres may not see an immediate change, the ownership of the company will be different.
Read more:
- Explained: Who will make planning decisions in Harrogate district after devolution?
- Explained: What happens to bin collections in Harrogate after devolution?