PREPARATORY groundwork for Skipton's new swimming Pool should begin over the coming weeks.

Before construction work can start on the pool and fitness centre £25,000 is being spent on diverting a sewer which runs across the site.

The Sports Lottery Fund has agreed in principal to granting £2 million towards the cost of the pool which will replace the old Aireville Pool, now approaching 40 years old. Work is underway to confirm the bid.

During this period Craven District Council has been told that before any construction work can begin the sewer out-fall from the existing building needs to be diverted.

The cost of the new pool, as submitted in the original lottery sport bid to Sport England, was estimated at £3.6 million. This has increased to just under £4 million due primarily to a number of changes in the design arising from meetings with Sport England.