
North Yorkshire Council has announced plans to invest more than £40m to improve and modernise leisure centres across the county, including in Whitby.
Four centres in Pickering, Selby, Skipton, and Whitby, would share £36m to become flagship health and wellbeing hubs.
A further £3m would be used to update gym and fitness equipment across 12 leisure sites operated by the authority.
The proposed investment comes after North Yorkshire Council took over the running of leisure services from the former district and borough councils following the launch of the unitary authority in 2023.
The four leisure centres to receive the bulk of the funding would be the Active North Yorkshire sites in Selby and Skipton, as well centres in Pickering and Whitby are currently operated by Everyone Active, and due to become part of Active North Yorkshire in 2027.
The investment would see a renovation of swimming pools and change rooms, as well improved gym facilities and additional studio space.
Pool accessibility would be improved including Changing Places facilities for people with additional needs, and improved reception areas and public spaces across the four sites.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, arts and housing, Councillor Simon Myers, whose responsibilities include leisure services, said: “We are committed to making sure that everyone in North Yorkshire has the best opportunities possible to stay active or take up exercise to help to promote both physical and mental health and wellbeing.
“This proposed investment is a massive statement in providing this commitment, and the plans would see funding made available to key sites across the county.
“An awful lot of work has gone into the proposals to make sure that we can provide our leisure services as effectively as possible through the new Active North Yorkshire banner, and we will consider the plans carefully when they are presented to members of the council’s executive later this year.”
The investment is due to be discussed by the housing and leisure overview and scrutiny committee on September 23, before being considered by senior councillors on the executive committee.
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