Work on Ribble Valley Pool Will Extend Its Life by 15 Years
Essential improvements to a Ribble Valley swimming pool will extend its life by up to 15 years, councillors have been told.
Without the work, Ribblesdale Pool in Clitheroe would be in danger of closing for good.
The pool will close to the public between April and October 2026 to allow the improvements to be carried out. It is owned and managed by Ribble Valley Borough Council.
Councillors agreed to go ahead with works to renew and improve the pool’s aging mechanical and electrical systems earlier this year. Additional funding to replace the pool lining and the building’s roof has also been agreed, subject to approval of the overall council budget for 2026/27 which will be decided by a meeting of the full council on 3 March 2026.
A council report said that following extensive surveys of the building, not carrying out the extra work is seen as a further risk to the longevity of the pool.
Ribblesdale Pool was built 53 years ago and has already lasted longer than the expected “lifespan” of 35-40 years for a facility of its type. The pool faces an ever-increasing risk of failure as parts and infrastructure wear out.
Funding of £3 million has been set aside from the council’s capital programme to cover the electrical and mechanical works. An additional £1.24 million to cover the lining and roof works has been included in the 2026/27 budget proposals.
The council’s director of community services Adam Allen said:
“This work will extend the life of the pool by 15 years and allow the next generation of young swimmers to enjoy its facilities. The alternative is that it would need to close in the next few years.
“Much of the work will be on the engineering systems that are hidden away behind the scenes and once it re-opens people probably won’t notice an obvious difference. However, without updating the essential mechanical and electrical systems the pool would be at significant risk of closure due to the failing systems in the building and its aging infrastructure.”
Committee chairman Councillor Stuart Hirst said:
“Ribblesdale Pool has provided a place for people of all ages to learn to swim and have fun for more than half a century and we want to see that continue.
“The fact is that the pool is past it’s ‘best by’ date and the current situation isn’t sustainable.
“Much of the work won’t be obvious to users when the pool re-opens, but without it the pool simply can’t go on much longer and that would be a great loss to Clitheroe and the borough as a whole.”
The council will continue to work with local swimming clubs and other users to find alternative arrangements while the pool is closed.