Ribblesdale Pool Reopens After £4.25 Million Council Investment
Clitheroe's much-loved swimming facility is set to welcome the community back following extensive refurbishment funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council.
By Megan Worthington
••3 min read
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Generic image of a red-brick town hall with a balcony and ornate railings, under a blue sky.
Ribblesdale Pool in Clitheroe will reopen on Monday 9 November, following a substantial £4.25 million investment by Ribble Valley Borough Council to secure the facility's future.
The pool, which had been closed since April for essential upgrades, has undergone extensive work. Housed in a 54-year-old building, the facility was no longer energy efficient and faced the risk of permanent closure due to its age and previous design life. This reopening comes at a critical time nationally, with Swim England reporting over 1,000 public pool closures since 2010.
An official opening and family fun day is scheduled for Saturday 14 November at 1:45pm to celebrate the pool's return. Councillor Simon Hore, Council Leader, will officially reopen the pool at noon. The event will feature inflatable sessions and other activities, with visitors encouraged to book in advance.
The refurbishment, funded by the council’s capital programme, includes a new roof and pool lining, as well as updated filtration and electrical systems. These improvements are crucial for the pool's long-term operation and sustainability, aiming to reduce running costs.
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"Ribblesdale Pool matters to this community. It is where generations of children have learnt to swim, clubs train and people of all ages come to exercise, meet friends and enjoy themselves. We faced a clear choice. Without substantial investment, the pool was at risk of being lost. We chose to commit £4.25 million to its future and to ensure it was available to the next generation of swimmers because we recognise how much local people rely on it. Much of this work is behind the scenes, but replacing those essential systems is what will keep people swimming here, whilst reducing running costs and being more sustainable. At a time when communities across the country have experienced pool closures, we are proud to be bringing Ribblesdale back into use. We know swimmers, schools and clubs have missed the pool, and we thank everyone for their patience while this work has taken place."
Learning to swim remains a core purpose of the pool, with 15 local primary schools utilising Ribblesdale for lessons. The facility also supports local sporting opportunities, serving as a training base for Clitheroe Dolphins and hosting triathlon and subaqua clubs. Olympian Samantha Murray, a former member of the Dolphins, highlights the potential for local swimming to foster sporting achievement.
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"We are really looking forward to being back at Ribblesdale. Having a local pool where swimmers can train regularly makes an enormous difference to our club. Swimming gives young people much more than race results. They develop confidence, make friends and learn what they can achieve through practice and determination. This investment helps keep those opportunities available to the next generation and we’re very excited to be back."
The programme also includes Aquafit, Aqua for Health, and Hydrohex aqua fitness sessions. Residents can find swimming timetables, lesson information, and activity details on the council’s website, which also features a new online booking system.
Ribblesdale Pool is part of the wider sports and leisure facilities at Edisford, which includes the independently operated Roefield Leisure gym. A combined 'gym and swim' offer is available for residents.
Councillor Hore added, “Whether you are bringing your child for their first lesson, returning to your regular swim or looking for a new way to get active, we’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back. Please come along and help us celebrate.”
