YEARS of “hard graft and sacrifice” by hundreds of people in and around Settle have finally paid off with the £840,000 transformation of the town’s swimming pool.

Many of the volunteers and supporters who championed the pool over the years were back in the building last night for a sneak preview ahead of this weekend’s official reopening.

And what a transformation there is. The pool remains – but tired changing facilities have been completely transformed.

There’s a bright new reception area, plus catering facilities to service a new café. Pride of place goes to ‘fitSpace’ – a wellbeing centre offering fitness classes, children’s soft play, cycling ‘spin sessions’ and much more.

“It has been tough, a mammoth struggle really – but we have finally made it,” declared chair of the pool trustees Pat Taylor. “The achievements of everyone involved in getting to where we are right now is the culmination of an awful lot of hard graft and sacrifice.”

Apart from the obvious obstacles of a devastating pandemic and lengthy lock-downs, the other big challenge that threatened the project came with Storm Arwen which ripped away large sections of the pool’s roof less than twelve months ago.

While Arwen wrecked plans to keep the pool open during the redevelopment, it did provide an opportunity to add a bank of solar panels, cutting the pool’s energy bills.

But the solar roof meant unwelcome extra costs – triggering an urgent new fundraising effort. Generous donations from Hellifield Harness Racing were vital as was cash raised by participants in Rotary’s Dragonboat regatta at Coniston Cold. But the bulk of the fresh ‘roof’ money came from crowdfunding hastily – and expertly – organised by pool treasurer Rosie Sanderson.

Despite all these difficulties the team of trustees plus supporters, pool users and volunteers drew on their collective networks, knowledge and career experiences to keep the project on track. It will culminate in the formal opening ceremony by Julian Smith MP this weekend – with a special virtual guest appearance from star swimmer Ned Sharp, who learned to swim in Settle pool.

Ned, a multi-award winning butterfly champion, has his sights firmly fixed on the 2024 Paris Olympics. That dream started as a seven-year-old at his local junior school. “I learned to swim at Settle pool – everything started right here; it means so much to me and my family.”

Ned has backed the rebuild throughout, devoting time and encouragement despite his rigorous training and competition schedules. “It’s so important for young people in particular. I know how vital the pool is for the schools, and I just hope some of those kids who are going to be using it again in the coming weeks and months go on to make their own dreams come true.”

The redevelopment had substantial support from Sport England and Craven District Council, linked directly to the commitment to the pool shown by the local community. Volunteers dug deep with time and cash while the Rotary Club delivered consistent – and generous – support.

The pool has been helped by many fundraising ventures throughout its 50 year history, but none as significant as the opening of the charity shop in Duke Street, Settle, five years ago.

Over 40 volunteers give their time freely to ensure the shop’s ongoing success. As well as staffing the premises and receiving donations, they deliver crucial help by assessing donations in specialist areas such as jewellery, toys and haberdashery.

Volunteers Jean Lonsdale and Heather Collins are just two of the team who work tirelessly identifying items that can be sold online. Jean even sold a boat to help keep the pool afloat. And while it has been said they have sold everything but the kitchen sink, that is not true since at least two domestic sinks have been donated and sold.

In total the shop has generated more than £275,000 since it opened, despite lengthy Covid lockdowns. It now brings in around £80,000 a year.

Settle Area Swimming Pool Manager Jenn Hodgkinson stressed that the pool is “fully ready and able” to cope with all sections of the community, with special interest groups such as parents and toddlers plus disabled users all looking forward to getting back in the water. And local schools are “queuing up” to bring pupils back into the pool, she said.

Chair of the pool trustees Pat Taylor added: “We are delighted to be able to re-open the pool. Our supporters and volunteers have waited such a long time for this moment. We are grateful for all the support we have been given. But this is not the end of the story. We still need people to support the pool – starting right now as we encourage everyone to join us back at the centre.”