SWIMMERS in Ilkley have been left high and dry this week with the closure of the lido, whilst the indoor pool also remains closed due to essential maintenance work.

The indoor pool closed in July for repairs to the roof to be carried out during the lido season. It had been hoped to reopen it this week but the work is taking longer than expected.

Meanwhile, Ilkley ward councillors have been told that whilst it had been hoped to keep the unheated lido open longer, cooler weather and low user numbers has forced its closure.

In an email they were informed: “User numbers and takings at the Lido were very low last week. Over the whole of last week we saw just 167 customers and on Saturday the Lido took just £4.00. The Lido is a large site and we need around seven staff to operate.

“Looking at the income and the costs we have now decided that the Lido will be closed from Monday 17 September and will remain closed until the 2019 season starts next May.

“It has been very difficult working without a reopening date for the indoor pool; but we simply have not had any information to give customers regarding a reopening date.”

However Becky Malby, a member of the Friends of Ilkley Lido and a regular swimmer there said:"Even if the indoor pool is closed there is no reason not to have the Lido open until the end of this week. We were told it would stay open until the end of September if the weather was ok - which it is. We assume the Lido closure is as a result of the staff redeployment.”

Ilkley’s MP John Grogan said: “Bradford Council have assured me that they will advise the local community within the next few days of a new expected opening date for the indoor pool.

“They say that once the contractors started work on the new roof they found that it was in a worst state than expected. When they do reopen the indoor pool if it is before the end of October I have asked them to discuss the possibility with Ilkley Swimming Club of starting the Winter Swim Clubs and having the Christmas Swim. It is particularly unfortunate that Aireborough Leisure Centre Pool is also closed at the moment.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The indoor pool at Ilkley has been closed since 16th July for work to replace the roof. The work was initially planned to take around eight weeks and we hoped the pool would be reopened mid September.

“Once the inside of the roof was exposed it became apparent that the work required was more extensive than first thought. Work is still on-going, but the contractors have so far been unable to give us a revised date for the completion of the work. We hope to know within the next few days.

“Ilkley Lido runs alongside Ilkley Pool. The work to the roof was planned during the lido season. The lido season normally ends on the first Sunday in September and we have kept it open a couple of weeks beyond that this year.

“The weather has unfortunately turned quite cool over the last two weeks although there have been a couple of warmer days. User numbers were very low last week so the decision has been made to close from Monday 17 September. The lido will remain closed until the 2019 season starts next May.

“We will be working with Ilkley Swimming Club and other user groups to keep any disruption to activities to a minimum.”