Starbeck Baths set to reopen in 10 days

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:

 

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:

 

Cost of delayed Harrogate Hydro refurbishment increases by £1m

Harrogate Borough Council has revealed the cost of Harrogate Hydro‘s delayed refurbishment has increased by about £1 million to about £12.8 million.

The Stray Ferret reported this month the reopening of the leisure facility, originally scheduled for next month, had been pushed back until summer next year.

The council said this was due to discovering “some additional areas of work that could only have come to light when the building was closed and a strip-out of the internal fabric had taken place”.

In a press release today, the council gave a breakdown of the additional costs, which will be met by taxpayers. They are:

The refurbished Hydro will include a pool, new diving structure, 400 square metre fitness suite, sauna and steam suite and new reception and café, as well as a reconfigured car park, bicycle storage and electric vehicle charging points.

The existing gas boilers have been replaced with air-source heat pumps and 250 solar panels, along with new metering and energy monitoring and control systems, which are expected to halve the carbon footprint of the leisure centre.

Harrogate Hydro is among the facilities which will be run by the new leisure company.

How the Hydro used to look.

Councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at the council-controlled Brimhams Active, said:

“At a time when some local authorities across the country are reviewing their investments in leisure facilities, we remain committed to ensuring people across the Harrogate district can keep fit and active for many years to come.

“By carrying out this additional work now, while the facility is closed, we can ensure the building is fit for purpose and can conform to the latest legislation and building regulations.

“And at a time of increasing energy costs, we are helping to offset this by making the leisure centre as energy-efficient as possible. And thanks to a government grant of some £1.8million, it will be able to utilise renewal energy.”

The council added the new leisure and wellness centre In Knaresborough was on target to open at the end next summer.

It will provide a six-lane 25-metre pool, activity pool with flume, sauna and steam room, fitness suite and studio, spin studio, café, electric car charging points and bicycle storage.

Read more:

 

New zip-wire opens in Knaresborough

A new zip-wire on Fysche Field in Knaresborough is now open.

The zip-wire will be part of a new play area to be built next to Harrogate Borough Council‘s £17m new fitness centre and swimming pool.

The facility is due to be finished by the end of summer 2023 and will have a six-lane 25-metre pool, activity pool with flume, sauna and steam room, fitness suite and studio, spin studio, café, electric car charging points and bicycle storage.

The council said in a statement today it will be built to high environmental standards and include air source heat pumps and solar panels to reduce the carbon footprint.

Once complete, the current pool will be demolished and be replaced by a bigger and better play area with swings, slides and a roundabout.

Conservative councillor Phil Ireland, who represents Knaresborough Aspin and Calcutt ward, said:

“This is a great new addition for Knaresborough and the start of a much wider play area and leisure facility for the town.

“I’m delighted it is now available for young people to use and look forward to the scheme being completed next year.”

Read more:

 

Ripon youth charities hindered by restricted access to skate and bike park

Two youth charities aiming to engage Ripon’s young people in positive activities believe they are being hindered by restricted access to recreational facilities.

Fencing installed at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre has made the skate and bike park at Camp Close a no-go area for Inspire Youth’s support vehicle and the outreach sessions delivered from it.

The skate park adjacent to the leisure centre has, in previous years, provided a focal point for meeting with so-called ‘hard to reach’ children.

Jess Ward, founder and chief executive of Inspire Youth, told the Stray Ferret:

“Because we no longer have access to the site with our vehicle, we can’t hold our sessions there.

“That is a blow, because the kids see this as one of few places in Ripon where they can meet with us and talk about their issues, fears and concerns in a confidential way and one in which they will receive a sympathetic hearing.”

Inspire Youth at Hall Wath, Ripon

Jess Ward, CEO of Inspire Youth (right) is pictured at the Hell Wath football coaching session with Chloe Hickson of Harrogate Town FC (centre) and, from the left, Inspire’s Jodie Edwards, Marie Anderson and Lizzy Wickens

Ms Ward added:

“We are engaging with and supporting young people, some of whom feel they have been marginalised and unfairly blamed for the city’s problems of anti-social behaviour.

“It’s very much a case of giving a dog a bad name, but we are determined that we will not turn our backs on children who need help and encouragement, instead of constant criticism.

“They are our future and need to know that they are members of the community with a valuable contribution to make.”

Jayne Shackleton, Ripon YMCA’s community and development manager, said that young people had told the charity that they miss Inspire Youth’s outreach sessions and want to see them back at the skate park.

She added:

“We will continue to monitor the area and consult with young people and work alongside partners in the hope that the skate park will become and remain a safe, accessible space for young people and meet their needs”.

The original £10.2 million contract for the leisure scheme was to provide a new six-lane swimming pool, a fully refurbished leisure centre, children’s playground, a car park with charging points, in addition to restoration of the football pitch and landscaping of the site.

Camp Close Ripon Fenced off

No ball games this summer at the Camp Close site

More than 14 months after the scheme was initially scheduled for completion, the project is almost £5 million over budget and further, as yet, undisclosed monies are to be committed by Harrogate Borough Council for ground stabilisation work under the leisure centre and provision of a temporary gym on site, while that work is carried out.

In the meantime, the playing fields donated in perpetuity by Alderman Wade for ‘the benefit of the children of Ripon’ will remain fenced off.

Last week, however,  with the support of Ripon Panthers Junior Football Club and Harrogate Town FC coach Chloe Hickson, Inspire Youth organised coaching sessions at Hell Wath and other locations are being sought.

What did the council have to say?

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said that Inspire Youth and the YMCA have not been denied access to the site.

They added:

“The skate park and basketball court are available for everyone to use and can be accessed via Knaresborough Road.

“Our community safety team work proactively with partners in Ripon around engagement with young people. And we encourage both of these organisations to continue do their outreach work in the area.”

In response to the Stray Ferret’s question about when children will be able to play football once more at Camp Close, the spokesperson, said:

“The football pitches will remain fenced off, while we carry out ground stabilisation works at the original Ripon Leisure Centre, to ensure people are kept safe while construction vehicles are moving round the site. This will be restored towards the end of the project.”

The council spokesperson, added:

“The plaque to recognise Alderman Wade will also be reinstated on completion of this multi-million pound investment for the people of Ripon.”

Read more:

 

 

£28m contracts for new Knaresborough pool and Harrogate Hydro upgrades approved

Two construction contracts worth a total of £28m are to be handed to a Bristol-based firm to build a new leisure centre in Knaresborough and refurbish Harrogate Hydro.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet agreed this week to the deals with Alliance Leisure ahead of the works starting next month.

Jonathan Dunk, executive officer for major projects at the council, said the company had been chosen because it has “the right experience and expertise to ensure we deliver good value for money”.

The decision comes after Alliance Leisure was previously awarded a £2m contract to draw up plans for both schemes in 2020.

A planning application for the £17m Knaresborough Leisure Centre was approved on Monday. The plans include building the new facility over at play at Fysche Field before the existing Knaresborough Pool is demolished.

The new leisure centre could be built by July 2023 and will have a six-lane pool, health spa, fitness studios and replacement play area.

The £11.8m Harrogate Hydro plans were approved in October 2021 and include a two-storey extension of the building, as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area.

There will also be a new diving board structure, fitness suite and refurbished changing areas.

These works could be completed by April 2023.

Councillor Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, told the cabinet meeting that the council was committed to both projects despite rising costs.

He said:

“Keeping people fit and active as long as possible has to benefit everyone with both physical and mental health.

“These new facilities will be far more efficient and this investment keeps us competitive.

“We live in a new world post-Covid and increasing costs, materials and labour shouldn’t stop us in our ambitions.”

Read more:

Cllr Lumley also said he was pleased to see the completion of Ripon’s new multi-million-pound swimming pool which officially opens today after months of costly delays.

The project is nine months overdue and £4m over budget, and refurbishment works on the adjoining Ripon Leisure Centre are still underway after the discovery of an underground void prompted the need for an investigation.

The new facility has been named the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in honour of the city’s triple Olympic medal winner who was born in Harrogate and went to Ripon Grammar School.

Cllr Lumley said:

“Yesterday I spent a very proud morning in Ripon at the new leisure and wellness centre with local lad and Olympic hero Jack Laugher.

“I was privileged to show Jack around the new multi-million pound facility and he was delighted with what he saw.

“He was also extremely pleased that his name appeared above the door.”

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: 

“New swimming pools go through a significant amount of testing to ensure they are safe to use for years to come and provide the best experience for the customer.

“During the testing period of the new six-lane 25-metre swimming pool at the leisure centre on Dallamires Road in Ripon, an issue was identified with the lining of the pool.

“In order to resolve this issue, Myrtha – the pool manufacturer – will be carrying out additional work, at no expense to the borough council, to prepare the pool for opening.”

Read more:

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.

Ripon Leisure Centre

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.

Ripon pool delay not linked to sinkhole issues, says council

Harrogate Borough Council has said “categorically” that a delay to the opening of Ripon’s new swimming pool is not linked to ground stability issues and the threat of sinkholes.

The six-lane pool on Dallamires Lane was due to open on December 8 but the council said on Friday this had been delayed because a fault with the lining of the pool had been found during testing. The pool is now due to open in January but no precise date has been confirmed.

A council spokesman said pool manufacturer Myrtha would be carrying out additional work to fix the problem, at no extra cost to the council.

A swimming pool liner is a vinyl surface that is attached to the walls and floor of a pool to help keep in the water.

There have been long-standing concerns about sinkholes on the land the pool has been built on. But a council spokesman said the two issues were not linked.

“We can categorically confirm that this issue is related to the lining of the pool and not a ground stability issue.”

Harrogate Borough Council closed Ripon Spa Baths last month in anticipation of the new pool opening. The delay to the Dallamires Lane pool means there is nowhere to go for a swim in Ripon until the new year.

Read more:

Concerns have again been raised recently that the site could be permanently plagued by the threat of sinkholes.

This month, a council-commissioned report by engineering company Stantec outlined measures to mitigate the effects of a void that was detected last year.

Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, called for the council to postpone a decision on the measures and give greater consideration to finding an alternative site.

Senior councillors voted to press ahead with plans to carry out further work while opening most of the site.

The Stray Ferret revealed last week that Ripon’s new leisure project is now more than £4m over budget.

Three of Harrogate district’s five council pools remain closed

Although the covers of some council-run swimming pool were rolled back yesterday, there is still no date when Knaresborough, Ripon and Starbeck pools will reopen.

Harrogate Borough Council has reopened The Hydro in Harrogate and Nidderdale Pool in Pateley Bridge.

But Knaresborough pool, which has been closed since the end of last year, remains shut as do pools in Ripon and Starbeck.

In its Residents’ News email sent yesterday, the council said Knaresborough pool required repairs and covid restrictions were still preventing Spanish engineers from travelling to fix the filtration equipment.

It said it was “highly unlikely the engineers will be given permission to travel any time soon” and added the council had been in talks with UK pool specialists and were “working up plans to completely replace the faulty equipment”. The newsletter said:

“This is likely to be a more costly solution, but we are keen to ensure our residents in the east of the district have easy access to a pool as soon as possible.”

Across the district in Ripon there is a similar story. The Spa Baths are currently up for sale and remain closed to the public.

A new Ripon pool and leisure centre development was scheduled for completion at the end of next month but has been delayed until November 2021.

The council told the Stray Ferret that further updates on the Ripon development would be released in the coming weeks.

There is also no news on the future of Starbeck Baths.

Read more:

 

Call for ‘greater transparency’ over Knaresborough pool reopening

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have called for “greater transparency” over the reopening of Knaresborough Pool.

Matt Walker, a local campaigner for the party, has written to Cllr Stan Lumley, cabinet member for leisure at Harrogate Borough Council, after the pool was not included on a list of openings on April 12.

A council newsletter has said Knaresborough pool will continue to remain closed until further notice.

It added engineers from the Spanish-based equipment manufacturer were unable to undertake urgent repair work because lockdown rules prevented them travelling.

Mr Walker said the council’s announcement “raised more questions than it answered” and that Knaresborough Pool needed to reopen as soon as possible.

He added that the facility had been closed “multiple times” for maintenance and had now been shut for more than a year.

Read more:

Mr Walker said:

“The council appears to have taken its eye off the ball, yet again. Residents deserve answers.

“Many other organisations have continued to carry out essential maintenance work during the lockdowns. It would appear that this is nothing more than poor planning from Harrogate Borough Council, but questions certainly need to be answered.

“Knaresborough pool is a real community asset. It is important for the health and wellbeing of thousands of local residents, so residents shouldn’t have to wait many additional months to see it return.”

The council’s other leisure centres — The Hydro in Harrogate, Nidderdale Pool and Leisure Centre and Ripon Leisure Centre — will open on April 12.

Knaresborough Pool is due to be demolished and replaced by a new leisure facility on the same location.

The council has been approached for comment.