Plans to transform Skipton’s Craven Leisure centre have taken a step forward, though the project still depends on North Yorkshire Council being able to keep its finances steady.
At a recent executive meeting in Skipton, councillors backed a proposal to invest around £40 million in leisure facilities across the county, with nearly £10 million earmarked for the Skipton site.
The aim is to modernise centres and promote healthier lifestyles under the council’s new “Active North Yorkshire” initiative, launched last year.
The improvements proposed for Craven Leisure, based in Aireville Park, include round-the-clock gym access, new studios, a pool pod for improved accessibility, a Changing Places toilet, and a redesigned café and reception area. The site will also adopt the new Active North Yorkshire branding.
Councillor Simon Myers, who holds the culture, arts and housing brief, said the plans marked a turning point for the way the council supports wellbeing. He described the investment as something to be proud of, particularly as it focuses on communities facing health inequalities.
However, Cllr Myers cautioned that the scheme relies on the council maintaining a stable financial position. He said government funding cuts had made it increasingly difficult to “balance the books,” and stressed that no final spending commitments would be made until the council’s financial health had been fully assessed.
Finance portfolio holder Cllr Gareth Dadd echoed the point, urging colleagues to remember that spending on leisure and services for vulnerable people depended on the council managing its budget responsibly.
Cllr Mark Crane added that while the financial challenge was real, the planned upgrades represented a major investment in North Yorkshire’s future.
Fellow councillor Richard Foster noted that improving leisure facilities would bring wider benefits — helping people stay active, easing pressure on the NHS, and giving more young people the chance to learn to swim.
A final decision on the investment will be made once the council’s senior finance officers have reviewed its budget position later this year.
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