Disused reservoir could be turned into ‘wild pool’

A disused reservoir in a Bradford District park could become an outdoor swimming pool if a new campaign proves successful. Yorkshire Swim Works hoped to convert the old Kettlewell Reservoir on the St Ives Estate, near Bingley, into a swimming facility which will also include saunas and space for Pilates classes.

The group, a community interest company, hopes to attract £5m of investment into the scheme, which it believes will bring up to £2.4m to the local economy each year. The group had been set up in the hope of creating an outdoor swimming facility at Thornton Moor, near Denholme.

But the group was outbid during the auction for the former reservoir and decided to look for other sites in Yorkshire. They believe the site at St Ives, a park owned and run by Bradford Council, will now be the home of Yorkshire Swim Works and have started a public consultation.

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The group hopes the pool will help regenerate the entire St Ives estate. Announcing the plans on Monday, the group said the facility: “It would provide you with an accessible, inclusive, safe swimming facility tucked into the existing reservoir. Naturally filtered, the pool would have six 50m lanes for swimming and aquatics and a large lake area for diving, splashing, swimming and more.

“Additional buildings will house saunas, open rooms for classes such as yoga and Pilates and reception and changing rooms. Early concept drawings were released for public consumption. Expected to attract £5 million in social and private investment, the project would see the creation of over 20 permanent full-time jobs, 25 permanent part-time jobs and over 100 part-time jobs summer.

“YSW CIC expects over 100,000 swims a year plus over 5,000 visitors to the area who will stay in the attached lodges, bringing in over £2.45 million in tourism spend.” Bradford Council recently spent more than £200,000 refurbishing the play area at the popular park, but other parts have been neglected in recent years.

St Ives Mansion, a private building on the site, was badly damaged in a fire earlier this year after years of standing empty. YSW added: “The park has huge potential and there are now opportunities to secure funding to continue the work started with the play area, with the restoration of the 19th century buildings and gardens, as well as regaining former Green Flag status.”

Caroline Kindy, founder of Yorkshire Swim Works CIC said: “We will be looking to work with the public and the existing tenants and stakeholders of the St Ives Estate to ensure that Yorkshire Swim Works benefits the whole community in the wider regeneration of the Estate. “

Kersten England, Chair of UK City of Culture 2025 said: “We know how vital physical activity is for mental and physical health and wellbeing. We know that outdoor swimming is becoming more and more popular. And as Chair of UK City of Culture in 2025, I hope this facility will be enjoyed by the families and communities of Bradford District for years to come – a place to meet, play together and create stories and memories to last a lifetime.”

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Councilor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for healthy people and places, Bradford Council said: “Outdoor swimming has become an increasingly popular activity in recent years, but would-be swimmers are suffering from a lack of facilities across the board and in the borough .

“Yorkshire Swim Works has put forward an exciting proposal which would provide more people with a high quality, safe and accessible facility all year round. The project would provide much-needed new jobs and further stimulate interest and funding in the property. At this stage the Council is committed in principle to working with Yorkshire Swim Works to deliver the project and its health and employment benefits.”

News of the planned outdoor pool is the second swimming boost to be welcomed in Bingley this year. In March, the Government announced it had approved Bradford Council’s bid for raise funding to reopen Bingley’s existing indoor swimming pool. Members of Bingley Town Council recently received an update on the pool renovation plan.

A City Council statement said: “Bradford Council has had inspectors to assess the pool and are considering three options, two of which are pool refurbishments and one is a rebuild. All these options considered will then go to the chief executive before progressing.” To have your say about the consultation, click here.