Thank you for your interest in this story
To continue reading this article, sign up today to unlock exclusive content and be part of our community discussions
- Exclusive discounts
- Enjoy commenting on local issues
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
20
May 2024
Another £2 million to be spent stabilising land at sinkhole-prone Ripon leisure centre
North Yorkshire Council is to spend another £2 million stabilising land at Ripon leisure centre.
The Conservative council's ruling executive will be asked to approve the sum when it meets on Tuesday next week.
It means the council will have spent £8.5 million stabilising land at the sinkhole-prone site on a new leisure centre project that was initially estimated to cost £10.2 million in total.
The overall cost of the project has now doubled to £20 million.
Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s executive member for leisure, said:
Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre
The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre, which opened in March 2022, was built alongside the former Ripon Leisure Centre despite concerns being raised about the suitability of the land.
The project was initially started by the former Harrogate Borough Council, but it is now being overseen by North Yorkshire Council following its launch in April last year.
Members can use the new part of the site, which includes the pool, but because of ground stabilisation work on the old site they have to use a temporary gym in the car park and attend classes at the Hugh Ripley Hall in the city centre.
The temporary gym in the car park.
An investigation by engineering firm Stantec found evidence of multiple voids and “significantly weak” areas of ground beneath the older half of the leisure centre that was built in 1995.
An initial budget of £6.5 million was allocated to cover the ground stabilisation work.
North Yorkshire Council said last month it had pumped almost 3,000 tonnes of grout into remedying the situation.
But it said today "the amount of grout needed is currently higher than was originally forecast".
Councillors will be asked to allocate the £2 million from the strategic capacity reserve budget when they meet on Tuesday next week.
The leisure centre in Ripon is named after local star Jack Laugher, who made history in the 2016 Rio Olympics when he became the first ever Olympic champion in diving for Great Britain.
Read more:
- Ripon choir school conversion set for summer completion
- Ripon's replica tank goes on tour ahead of D-Day anniversary
- Transparency row overshadows Ripon’s mayor-making ceremony
0