A businessman has resubmitted plans for a bespoke scuba diving training pool in Knaresborough.
Tim Yarrow, owner of Harrogate-based DiveShack UK, has lodged the plans in a bid to give the district a “truly unique” facility.
The plan would see the training pool built at land at Thistle Hill in Knaresborough and see the site changed from agricultural land to a deep water diving centre.
Mr Yarrow, who has been a a scuba instructor around the world for 30 years, said the move would help to draw people in from the area and improve access to the sport.
He added that his club, which has been open since 2018, currently trains young and upcoming divers. He said the facility would help to expand this.
He said:
“Our youngest diver is now 11, having completed her course at 10 and is currently spearheading an environmental charity campaign.
“This involves eight of her school peers coming and doing try dives with us and all money is going toward the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Association. These guys are the future and the potential saviours of our planet.”
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Mr Yarrow added that he hoped the proposed facility would be sympathetic to the local area. He has resubmitted the plan after withdrawing a previous proposal following concern from Knaresborough Town Council.
He said:
“The facility proposed will allow access for Diveshack to promote courses tailored to individual needs and timings, taking very little of the land for change of use and no negative impact on the close neighbours of whom all have been consulted and are in support.
“It has been drawn up in a sympathetic way to the environment with materials and energy usage and aims to be the best, most eco designated scuba training facility in the North.
“It will allow access to an amazing sport to numerous people who would maybe never have thought they could ever give it a try.”
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
Knaresborough could get scuba diving poolA bespoke scuba diving training pool could be built in Knaresborough.
Tim Yarrow, owner of Harrogate-based DiveShack UK, is behind the plans. He told the Stray Ferret the facility would be something “unique” for the district.
Mr Yarrow, who has been a scuba instructor around the world for 30 years, wants to build a three to four-metre pool near Knaresborough Celtic FC in the south of the town.
Before covid, his company organised diving trips off Malta in the Mediterranean but says a local pool would enable divers to learn closer to home.
He also hopes to work with charities so people with disabilities can use the pool.
Mr Yarrow submitted plans for a pool in September but withdrew them last week following an objection from Knaresborough Town Council, which objected to the size of the building and said there was “no proven supporting need for this facility”.
A revised plan is expected to be submitted soon.
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Mr Yarrow told the Stray Ferret the covid pandemic had hit his business hard:
“We were getting a really good momentum going then covid hit and knocked us back.
“We’re very much reliant on taking people abroad and they want to learnt to dive as they are going on holiday, but people aren’t going on holidays so the diving industry has had a massive kick between the eyes.”
Despite the UK’s cold water, Mr Yarrow said it is still a fantastic place to dive.
“Yes it’s cold but we’re kitted out for it.
“Marine life around the coast is fantastic and I don’t think people realise how good it is. We have seals in the Farne Islands, Scotland’s marine protected areas and spectacular shipwrecks.”