A multi-million pound investment is being proposed to transform leisure and wellbeing hubs through a countywide vision to promote healthy and active communities across North Yorkshire.
A total of £36 million is recommended to be invested in four key sites as part of the planned strategy to provide the greatest opportunity for all residents to take part in physical activity.
The plans would see the funding focused on improving Active North Yorkshire sites in Selby and Skipton as well as Pickering and Whitby. The Pickering and Whitby locations are currently operated by Everyone Active and due to become part of Active North Yorkshire in 2027.
The investment would pay for improved gym facilities, additional studio space and an overhaul of swimming pools along with better changing rooms. There would also be more accessible pool access including Changing Places facilities for people with additional needs and improved reception areas and public spaces across the four existing sites.
A further £3 million in funding is recommended to be invested in a phased programme to upgrade gym and fitness equipment across a further 12 leisure sites we oversee throughout the county.
We have drawn up the proposed leisure investment strategy after launching the new Active North Yorkshire service last year.
The new service is aimed at improving the opportunities for people to become and stay active at every stage of their life. The next phase looks at how investment in our facilities can help to deliver this aim and to create financially sustainable services across the county.
Our executive member for culture, arts and housing, Cllr Simon Myers, whose responsibilities include leisure services, said: “We are committed to making sure that everyone in North Yorkshire has the best opportunities possible to stay active or take up exercise to help to promote both physical and mental health and wellbeing.
“This proposed investment is a massive statement in providing this commitment, and the plans would see funding made available to key sites across the county.
“An awful lot of work has gone into the proposals to make sure that we can provide our leisure services as effectively as possible through the new Active North Yorkshire banner, and we will consider the plans carefully when they are presented to the members of the council’s executive later this year.”
The proposed leisure investment strategy will be discussed at a meeting of our housing and leisure overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday 23 September.
Views of the committee will then help to shape a report that is due to be presented to our executive later this year.
The proposed strategy would also see more than £1 million invested in essential repairs at both swimming pools at the Active North Yorkshire Richmond site to ensure that they re-open to the public.
Both swimming pools had to be shut following a partial collapse of the building’s ceiling in April and have remained closed since while we considered options.
A survey was launched in June to glean the public’s opinions on options ranging from undertaking the essential repairs to looking at alternative uses for the building or closing the site.
The survey had 2,283 responses with 58% of people who took part stating that they used the swimming pools in Richmond at least once a week. A total of 74% of respondents said that it was “very important” that the swimming pools were re-opened.
If the proposed investment is given the go-ahead by our executive, it is hoped that the swimming pools will re-open to the public next year. The gym facilities and the café at the site continue to be open to the public.
Cllr Myers said: “We have listened to the public and taken on board their views about the leisure provision in Richmond and understand the importance of not just the swimming pools but the gym facilities too. We recognise the strategic need for the site to remain in Richmond as this fits with our countywide vision to promote health and wellbeing across North Yorkshire.
“It is heartening to see through the survey how many people do use and care immensely about the facilities. To make sure that the leisure centre can remain a key part of the community, though, I would urge people to continue to use it – and for anyone who is considering how they can become more active to sign up as a member.”
Find out more about our leisure offer on our Active North Yorkshire pages.