Residents in the Swim after Ribblesdale Pool Reopens

The pool has been doing a splashing trade since reopening with Covid-safe measures.

Swimming is now pre-booked up to a week in advance and the pool has three lanes, each with a maximum of five swimmers grouped by speed.

Swimming sessions last an hour – up to 40 minutes in the pool and 20 minutes for arriving and leaving the building, including showering and changing. 

When you arrive at the pool, your will be designated a locker and changing cubicle.

And in line with Government guidance you are asked to wear a mask when entering and leaving the building.

As well as swimming sessions, the teaching pool can now be booked by families and groups on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and swimming lessons for schools have resumed.

Adult swimming clubs and aqua-fit classes will resume the week beginning Monday, 17 May, if Step 3 of lockdown easing gets the go-ahead.

General swimming lessons are on hold for the time being and will resume in due course.

Anyone with swimming lesson credit from before the pandemic is asked to contact the pool to state if they wish to retain their lessons or receive a refund.

Further details are available at ribblevalley.gov.uk or Ribblesdale Pool on 01200 424825.

Making a splash

• A gentle swim can burn over 200 calories in half an hour and a fast front crawl can burn as many calories as an eight-mile run
• Swimming can support up to 90 per cent of the body’s weight in water, meaning those with disabilities, injuries or illnesses, such as arthritis, can also take part in sport in a comfortable environment
• Swimming strengthens the heart and lungs and lowers stress and depression
• The first known record of people swimming dates back to Egyptian drawings from 2500 BC
• Ribblesdale Pool has its own water witch, a tiled mosaic called Aqua Alice, who lives at the bottom of the pool – colourful fish designed by local schoolchildren can be seen swimming in her seaweed hair!