BUILDING work on Skipton's £3.9 million swimming Pool and fitness centre has reached the half way stage and the complex should be open to the public in July.

The plush new centre will contain a 25 metre six-lane pool, a learner pool with variable depth moveable floor and a 35-station fitness suite, steam room and caf.

It is being built alongside the existing pool built in the 1960s, which will be bulldozed towards the end of March.

Head of operations at Craven District Council Greg Robinson said: "The building should be completed on June 20 2003, despite all the heavy rain in July and August the main contractor has only lost a week of time.

"It will take about a month to prepare the pool for opening which is pencilled in for July 20 2003. The construction programme is about half way through and a significant amount of the construction work has been completed."

Some of work already done includes the floor areas, the roof cladding, shot blasting the pool walls and floor in preparation of the tiling, installation of internal scaffolding so work can begin on the air handling units, installation of windows, and the erection several external and internal curtain walls.

In short, the external structure of the building is practically complete, the rest of the work will focus on the interior fixtures and fittings, tiling the pool tank and installing the plant equipment.

The area where the current pool 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 partner.

Mr Robinson said: "The pool has been designed to meet the modern standards for 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.

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.

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

Council officers are engaged in negotiations to find a private sector partner to run the operation for 10 years.