Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young visits Bingley Pool

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young visited Bingley Pool, which has been shut since 2020, this morning along with several officials from Bradford Council and Shipley MP Philip Davies.

Wednesday's budget revealed the pool was one of two “shovel ready” projects nationally that would receive funding.

Mr Young said: “I’m here today in Bingley to announce £14.6 million from the Levelling Up Fund coming right here to Bingley Pool.

“We’re going to see a revamped pool here in Bingley serving the people of this fantastic town for many years.

“We’ve been funding a number of projects in the Bradford district nearly every round as best as we could."

He described it as a "particularly high-scoring bid at low cost". 

Bingley Pool, which has been closed since 2020. (Image: Newsquest)

The Minister also explained the bid process - Bradford Council’s initial bid was not successful.

He said: “Bradford Council, in conjunction with the local MP Philip Davies submitted a bid to the Levelling Up Fund for this pool, because obviously the pool closed in 2020, and they recognised that the need for it and the desire of the local community to see this pool reopened.

“We’ve been able today to fund that bid, they put into round two of the Levelling Up Fund which is £14.6 million, which is going to help refurb this pool here.

Levelling Up Fund Minister Jacob Young met with officials and politicians from Bradford today to announce a successful bid to refurbish Bingley Pool. (Image: Newsquest)

“I’ve also been learning about some of the ambitions the council has in terms of the public realms works around the market square in Bingley and the potential for other investments to come into the town as well.

“We’ve recognised that things have changed a lot since Bradford Council originally put in this bid for this pool.

“Where changes are needed to the project, we’re open to discussing those with Bradford because we really want to see a pool here in Bingley. I know Philip Davies, the local MP, is really passionate about that.

“When we had the initial Levelling Up Fund round two, we had a lot of applicants and lots of those were very good bids, so were able to fund them.

“We did a further one in round three where we were able to capture a few more of those bids, and then in the budget yesterday, we were able to fund bids which were high-scoring but low cost like this bid in particular.

“The local MP has been relentless in his campaigning to see the pool reopened, and I’ve been really pleased to hear representations from him but also the local community as to how important this is, so I’m really pleased we’ve been able to fund this today.”

Mr Davies said: “The Prime Minister came to visit Bingley in February of last year and I think that definitely put Bingley on the map.

“The thing I’ve been lobbying for is this pool and the Prime Minister was really supportive."

Although no timeline of work has been set, Mr Davies said: “It’s got to be finished by March 2026. I’m pleased the Government have set a deadline.

“The council need to pull their finger out and get on with it. My job is to keep feet to the fire.

“People in Bingley are excited about this and they will want to see some progress on it.”

Bingley Pool, which is in a state of disrepair, has been closed since 2020. (Image: Newsquest)

Geoff Winnard, Conservative town councillor for the  said: “Bingley Pool closed before Covid and never re-opened. It was in so much disrepair, it was going to cost £3 million to make repairs to get it re-opened.

“We were horrified that Bradford wouldn’t reinvest in it at the time.

“This announcement from the Government is a huge shot in the arm for Bingley.

“There was a lot of fantastic lobbying from our MP, Philip Davies. He was forever badgering Government officials about it.

“But the proof will be in the pudding to see if Bradford Council will deliver it.

“It’s good to see a lot of Bradford Council officials here today. They’re obviously taking it very seriously.

“This Bingley facility has united the community and it is very much like a traditional pool.”