FIFTY years after it was opened, Spenborough Pool has been demolished to clear the way for a new £15m leisure complex.

It’s been described as “the end of an era”.

The forthcoming Spen Valley Leisure Centre is the first major leisure infrastructure in the north of Kirklees for decades.

Demolition of the old pool and fitness complex, which closed in August, is expected to be fully completed by February. Its replacement is due to open in September 2021.

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The new centre on Bradford Road in Liversedge will have an eight-lane 25m pool as well as a secondary activity pool with an adjustable floor making it shallow for children and deeper for adults.

All facilities – a 600sqm gym, exercise studios and changing rooms as well as the pools – will be under one roof. The current staff of 40 is likely to become a smaller team.

A much-loved facility, Spenborough Pool was opened by the Duchess of Kent on March 7, 1969. Thousands of children learned to swim there over half a century.