£4.2m refurbishment of Ribblesdale Swimming Pool nears completion
The revamped pool will reopen to the public on November 9, with an official unveiling on November 14
A swimming pool is set to reopen next month after a £4.2 million refurbishment.
Ribblesdale Swimming Pool in Clitheroe closed in April this year for the works.
Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) previously consulted the public on whether to demolish and rebuild the pool after it was found it needed to save money on its energy use and costs as well as carry out mechanical and re-lining works.
But it opted to refurbish and the pool is now set to reopen in early November, seven months after it closed, having gained a ‘guaranteed’ 15 years of life.
It will open to the public for swimming on November 9, with an official unveiling to take place on November 14.
Adam Allen, director for community services at RVBC, spoke about the changes at the community services meeting on Tuesday, October 20.
He said: “We’ve got a beautiful new lining for the pool, a beautiful fresh look, we’ve got a new roof on there as well.”
Mr Allen said there was also new water treatment equipment, energy-saving measures and a new filtration system.
He added: “An awful lot of money went on the plant room, the boilers, the filtration system, that was more than a million pounds in total.
“It didn’t leave as much, as we would have liked to do lots of other things inside the pool.”
The deep end has also been reduced, now being two metres rather than three metres deep – though Mr Allen said it is still suitable for diving.
He added: “This gives us 15 years guaranteed, if you like, but it will last a lot longer than that.”
The programme of swimming lessons has been revamped too, with more lessons included in the schedule according to Mr Allen.
They will include swimming for elderly people, children’s swimming lessons and lessons for ‘confidence in the water’ for those who cannot swim.
Councillor Sophie Cowman, Conservative, usually the vice-chair but acting chair on that day, said the works were ‘much-needed’ and she was ‘very excited’ to experience the new Ribblesdale Pool.
Councillors Malcolm Peplow of East Whalley, Read and Simonstone, Green, and Gary Scott of Chatburn, Conservative, congratulated officers on their work.