Historic pool to close for revamp

The baths were one of the spa town's main attractions in Victorian times

A Victorian swimming pool in Harrogate is to close for five weeks later this year as work starts on the first phase of a £760,000 upgrade.

Councillors approved the work at the 130-year-old Starbeck Baths at a meeting on Wednesday night.

The essential maintenance work is due to be carried out between 17 November and 21 December at a cost of £184,000.

It will include new changing facilities and repairs to the poolside floor, walls and ceiling.

The money will also be spent on structural works to the basement, a new boiler and improvements to the reception area.

'Least disruptive'

After considering a number of options for the future of the baths, Harrogate Borough Council decided in December 2007 to allocate £760,000 to cover a 10-year maintenance plan to make sure they would remain open.

It has also decided that closing the baths to allow the first phase of work to be carried out in one go was "the most economical and least disruptive" choice.

Councillor Pat Jones, cabinet member for cultural services, said: "This is an exciting time for the users of Starbeck Baths and they will certainly be able to see and benefit from the improvements.

"However, this is a huge amount of work and much of it can't be done while the pool is operating.

"We could have done it piecemeal, which would have meant frequent, shorter closures, but that would be disruptive for customers and, of course, our staff."