STAFF and Friends of the Nidderdale Pool and Leisure Centre are preparing for a big formal 'opening' event on 23 May.  Fresh from the 2004 Olympics, medal winner Steve Parry has been invited to help celebrate the opening of this new £1.7m facility.

 

The centre will be formally opened by The Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate (Councillor Mrs Margaret-Ann de Courcey-Bayley) as her very last event as Mayor of the Borough.  The Annual Meeting will be held later in the day when the Mayor will hand over her Chains of Office to the new Mayor (Councillor Caroline Bayliss).

 

The wording on the plaque the Mayor will unveil is set to record the magnificent efforts of local people in raising over £200,000 to help build this facility for the Dales.

 

The plaque will say:

 

 

Nidderdale Pool and Leisure Centre

was formally opened on

 

Monday, 23 May 2005

 

by

 

The Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate

Councillor Margaret-Ann de Courcey-Bayley

in the presence of the Nidderdale Community

 

 

Donor boards are also being provided, which will record the main contributors to the project which was developed through a partnership between Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council, Nidderdale High School, Nidderdale Pool Committee and was supported by Yorkshire Forward, Sport England and the Learning and Skills Council.

 

There are two people whom the organisers would have wished to add to the list of those to be thanked and invited to this event.  Sadly, former Councillor Patricia Barter died before the first brick was laid and Peter Crispin who sadly died the week the centre opened for business.  It is the council's intention to plant trees in memory of Patricia and Peter.  This will be done later this year during the correct planting season.

 

Since the Pool and Leisure Centre opened for business just nine weeks' ago, 250 locals have signed up for monthly memberships of the Brimham's fitness studio. 

 

The council is also delighted that the facility is starting to attract local people into jobs at the centre.  Dan Audsley, whose family have the Crown Hotel in Pateley Bridge, is settling in as a member of the fitness studio instructor team.

 

It is still early days for this new facility but the council is already looking to introduce teenage gym sessions and GP referral sessions.

 

Councillor Pat Jones, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Amenity Services said:  "Everyone involved with this project is looking forward to this formal opening event.  We are already very impressed with the number of users, which we expect to increase now the holiday season is approaching.

 

"The centre has a very sociable and friendly feel to it and I can see it becoming one of the main social focuses in the Dale.  Indeed we have been particularly pleased with the number of couples who have become members of the fitness studio."

 

The initial rush in the take up of memberships and inductions for the fitness studio has now eased so if anyone has been waiting to join the Brimhams' fitness studio they should telephone the centre to arrange for an induction on 711442.  ENDS