BUILDING work on Skipton's new £3.9 million swimming Pool and fitness centre is due to start next week.

The long awaited centre in Aireville Park will contain a 25 metre six-lane pool, a learner pool with a variable depth moveable floor and a 35-station fitness suite, steam room and caf.

It is thought that construction will take 55 weeks and that the new, modern leisure complex will open its doors to the public in June 2003.

The pool is being built alongside the existing pool, which will remain open until April 2003.

Greg Robinson, head of operations at Craven District Council, said the council wanted to ensure that there was as little interruption as possible to swimmers and centre users.

There should only be about a three-month gap between the closure and demolition of the existing pool and the opening of the new one.

The area where the pool currently stands will be a landscaped drop off point for visitors.

The cost of the scheme is £3.9 million of which £2.2 million has come from Sport England - the largest lottery grant ever given to Craven - and £1.2 million from the council's Capital Challenge money. The balance will be made up by the management partners.

The new pool has been designed by GLR Architects of Bradford, one of the UK's frontrunners in sports design. They have recently completed sports facilities in Newcastle, Epping Forest, Pershore, Ashford and Sevenoaks in Kent.

Mr Robinson said: "The pool has been designed to meet the modern standards of access for all, and will have a 'deck level' surround, where the water is at the same level as the pool surround.

"There will be a 'village' changing area which is helpful for families who will be able to change together.

"It will be a modern first class venue but will combine proper sport and fitness facilities with first class amenities and will retain the benefits of being in Aireville Park."

The current Aireville Pool was opened on May 14 1964 by Anita Lonsborough. It cost around £120,000 and was financed by the Skipton Urban District Council. The pool is 11-and-a-half-feet at its deepest point and holds 190,000 gallons of water.

Craven District Council has spent the last five years drawing up plans for a new pool and bid for lottery money three times before it was successful.

In March 2000 Sport England agreed in principle to grant funding for the new pool.

But it has taken two years' work by the council to amend designs and collate information on things like private partnership funding to persuade Sport England to actually give the money.

Over recent years the council has faced complaints from residents and tourists about the state of the current pool and its changing facilities.

In the past councillors have admitted that it has been allowed to fall in to disrepair and that they were reluctant to spend any money on it because of the impending lottery grant. On numerous occasions the pool has had to be closed because of engineering problems.

"Although the current pool has proved difficult to maintain, we will continue to operate as usual until April 2003," said Mr Robinson.

"We know that it holds many happy memories for visitors and residents of the district.

"We hope people will take the opportunity to celebrate nearly 40 years of fitness and fun at the pool, and of course a place of work too, and keep coming until we close for the last time next spring."