Vital repair works that will allow swimming facilities in Richmond to reopen to the public are entering their final stages.

The pools at Active North Yorkshire Richmond were forced to close in April last year following a partial collapse of the ceiling.

North Yorkshire Council has overseen a £1.65 million programme of works to secure the future of the facility following widespread public support for saving the pools.

The project is now nearing completion, with scaffolding having been removed, and the centre is getting ready to welcome customers back through its doors by the end of this year.

The extensive programme of work includes replacing part of the building’s ceiling, mechanical and electrical repairs, the installation of enhanced lighting both poolside and in the customer café, as well as upgrades to the centre’s heating system.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for leisure, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “It is great news that the pools in Richmond are getting closer to reopening.

“Since the closure, we have overseen an extensive programme of repairs and improvements that will help secure the future of the pools and ensure customers can enjoy high-quality leisure and wellbeing facilities in the heart of the community.

“Alongside some essential works, including the removal of sealed asbestos from the roof space, we have taken the opportunity to make a number of wider improvements that will directly benefit customers, such as upgraded lighting and heating.

“We know how important these pools are to residents, and throughout this project our priority has been to ensure all works were completed properly and to a high standard.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in the project, as well as residents and customers for their patience and cooperation while the work has been carried out. We look forward to sharing further details about the reopening in the coming weeks.”

Councillors voted in favour of supporting the repair works in October last year after residents expressed support for reopening the pools.

More than half of those surveyed said they used the pools at least once a week, with 91 per cent saying it was either “very important” or “moderately important” that the facility was saved.

North Yorkshire Council is responsible for 13 leisure and wellbeing hubs, including 12 swimming pools, and three community wellbeing hubs. It oversees Active North Yorkshire to promote health and wellbeing in communities across the county.

The repair works in Richmond support the council’s leisure investment strategy with a total of £40 million earmarked to transform leisure services in the coming years.

A total of £36 million will be invested across Active North Yorkshire sites in Selby and Skipton, as well as centres in Pickering and Whitby.

An additional £3 million will see gym and fitness equipment upgraded across a further 12 leisure sites overseen by the authority, including Richmond.

For more information about Active North Yorkshire Richmond, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/any-richmond.