An expanded programme of swimming lessons, including sessions for older residents and people who lack confidence in the water, has been unveiled ahead of the reopening of Clitheroe's Ribblesdale Pool.

The pool is due to welcome swimmers back on Monday, November 9, following a £4.25m refurbishment which has kept it closed since April.

Ribble Valley Borough Council has confirmed that the revamped programme will include more swimming lessons for children, alongside sessions aimed at older people and those looking to build their confidence in the water.

Details were revealed by the council's director of community services, Adam Allen, at a meeting of its community services committee on Tuesday, October 20.

Ribblesdale Swimming Pool will open to the public next month.

placeholder image — Ribblesdale Swimming Pool will open to the public next month.

Councillors also heard more about the extensive work carried out at the 54-year-old facility, which is expected to extend its life by at least another 15 years.

Mr Allen said: “We’ve got a beautiful new lining for the pool, a beautiful fresh look, we’ve got a new roof on there as well.”

Much of the £4.25m investment has gone towards improvements that visitors will not necessarily see, including new boilers, water treatment equipment and filtration systems.

Mr Allen added: “An awful lot of money went on the plant room, the boilers, the filtration system, that was more than a million pounds in total.

“It didn’t leave as much, as we would have liked to do lots of other things inside the pool.”

Other changes include reducing the depth of the deep end from three metres to two metres, although Mr Allen confirmed it would remain suitable for diving.

The council had previously considered demolishing and rebuilding the ageing pool after surveys highlighted the need for major improvements.

However, councillors ultimately opted for refurbishment, with the work expected to secure the facility's future for years to come.

Mr Allen said: “This gives us 15 years guaranteed, if you like, but it will last a lot longer than that.”

Councillor Sophie Cowman, who chaired the meeting, described the improvements as “much-needed” and said she was “very excited” to experience the refurbished pool.

Councillors Malcolm Peplow and Gary Scott also congratulated council officers on their work.

The pool will reopen to the public on November 9, with an official unveiling scheduled for Saturday, November 14.

A new online booking system has already been launched, allowing customers to book and pay for adult and children's swimming lessons without having to contact reception during opening hours.

For more information or to book swimming lessons, visit www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/poolbooking.