Number of swimming pools in West Yorkshire drops to lowest level in more than 20 years

There are concerns children in parts of West Yorkshire are growing up without access to a swimming pool - as the number that are open drops to its lowest level since before the millennium.

Figures from Swim England show more than 10 percent of West Yorkshire's pools have closed over the last 20 years. There were 125 available pools here in 2023, down from a high of 147 in 2005.

Halifax is still without a pool after the one on Skircoat Road closed in 2020 for the lockdown and never reopened, and plans for a new leisure centre keep being delayed.

It’s meant groups that used the pool, like an award-winning synchronised swimming club, have had to relocate.

They’re now called the City of Bradford Artistic Swimmers and train at Shipley Pool.

“A lot of the swimmers now are travelling an hour so it’s like a two-hour round trip,” says coach Claire Macina.

“We lost a lot of people, loads of swimmers left. We’ve also got a lot less pool space.

“There wasn’t just the synchronised swimming club, there was a diving club, scuba-diving as well, speed-swimming…. where have all these children and teenagers gone?

“In our club we did have quite a lot older teenagers who just gave up, which is really sad because they might have gone into coaching.

“And it’s not just about health, it’s water safety. We all love going on holiday…where are all these children learning to swim now?

“Every year you hear about incidents in our local rivers yet they’re shutting our swimming pools.”

Another pool with an uncertain future is the Ilkley Pool and Lido, with the cash-strapped Bradford Council putting leisure facilities under ‘review’.

The Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group has now been set up to try and secure its future, founded by Becky Malby:

“Obviously we want our children to be able to swim, it’s a key skill for people.

“We also have triathlons out of here, we run a fantastic half marathon… so it’s at the centre of all of that.

“The Brownlees train here, their first triathlon swims were here at Ilkley Lido…. so it’s the place where people started their careers.”

Figures from each of the five West Yorkshire councils show the declining number of pools run by them:

*Wakefield Council ran 8 pools in 2004 compared to 5 in 2024.

*Calderdale Council ran 5 pools in 2004 compared to 3 in 2024.

*Leeds Council ran 18 pools in 2004 compared to 16 in 2024.

*Kirklees Council ran 9 pools in 2004 compared to 7 in 2024 – one of which is temporarily closed due to the discovery of RAAC at Dewsbury Sports Centre.

*Bradford Council ran 9 pools in 2004 compared to 6 in 2024.

Shelagh O’Neill, Calderdale Council’s Director of Regeneration and Strategy, said:

“We understand the importance of having great leisure facilities in Halifax and plans for the new Halifax Leisure Centre are moving forward, with the latest designs recently receiving planning approval.

“The approved plans include a six-lane swimming pool with spectator seating, as well as a learner pool with a viewing and seating area. They also include a sports hall, fitness suite two multi-functional studios, a dedicated cycling studio, a children’s soft play and adventure area, a tag game arena and a café and community area.

“The revised designs ensure the project is financially sustainable and meets the needs of our diverse communities.”

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said: “Like many councils across the country, Bradford Council is facing unprecedented financial challenges and as such, leisure facilities including Ilkley Lido are currently under review to determine their viability.

“We are planning to conduct public consultation on any proposals during the summer months with a final decision being taken later in the year. We welcome the involvement of groups such as the new Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group, as knowing the commitment that local groups can offer will help to shape the proposals that are put forward later in the year.”