The health and wellbeing hub in Ripon has reopened to the public following significant renovations.
Work to repair a sinkhole pushed up renovation costs by £2m.
The centre is built above a layer of gypsum – a water-soluble rock that leads to the formation of large underground caves. This leads to a risk of collapse which had to be addressed.
A series of structural and refurbishment works have now been completed at Active North Yorkshire Ripon – The Jack Laugher Centre.
The lower ground floor has been transformed with customers now able to take advantage of brand-new exercise studios and new changing rooms.
A full fitness programme with up to 85 classes each week, including a range of Les Mills workout sessions, are also now on offer.
In the coming weeks, the cycling studio will be equipped to provide an immersive cycling experience, and the renovated sports hall will be available for bookings.
The executive member for leisure services at North Yorkshire Council is Councillor Simon Myers: “This has been a challenging project which has required complex ground stabilisation works, and I would like to thank everyone, including customers and residents, for their patience and cooperation.
Initial plans to refurbish the leisure centre were delayed in 2019 after a void was discovered, which required complex groundwork to stabilise the site and protect its long-term future.
The centre sits above a layer of gypsum, a water-soluble rock that leads to the formation of large underground caves that can collapse.
We took on the £23 million project to renovate and upgrade the site after the work was begun by the former Harrogate Borough Council.
Councillor Andrew Williams, who represents the Ripon Minster and Moorside division on North Yorkshire Council, said: “This has been a long-running project that started under the former borough council and has now been successfully delivered by North Yorkshire Council.
“I am pleased that residents in Ripon and the surrounding area can now make the most of these new state-of-the-art facilities, and I would like to thank the council for its commitment and dedication to resolving the complex issues that arose.”
The leisure centre was officially reopened following a short ceremony that was attended by councillors, leisure centre staff and gym users along with Olympian Jack Laugher MBE, who the facility is named after.
Born in Harrogate and educated at Ripon Grammar School, Jack made history at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by becoming the first-ever Olympic champion in diving for Great Britain alongside partner Chris Mears.
The champion sportsman then followed it up with an individual silver in the three-metre springboard and two bronze medals, making him one of the most successful British divers of all time.
After the centre reopened, Mr Laugher said: “My journey began in Ripon as I learnt to swim here before achieving so much success in my sport.
“But this is not just about elite sport, this is about engaging with all communities to be able to improve their health and wellbeing in such a fantastic new venue.”
Find out more information about the facilities offered at Active North Yorkshire Ripon – The Jack Laugher Centre.
