AN UPDATE has been given by Settle Area Swimming Pool charity about the re-development of the community pool. 

Settle Swimming Pool has been going through a modernisation over the last few years but had to fully close after Storm Arwen damaged the roof on November 27 last year. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Looking into the pool from the new buildingLooking into the pool from the new building

However, a successful crowdfunding campaign by the residents of Settle meant that not only could the redevelopment of the pool continue, but solar panels have also now been installed on the roof which was not part of the original plan.

Mike Smith, the spokesman for the swimming pool said: "Thanks to the people of Settle, it is now a greener pool and it will also cut down on our energy bills. We may even be able to sell surplus energy to the national grid, creating an extra revenue source." 

The pool will now include family-accessible changing cubicles instead of the ageing changing rooms that were there before the redevelopment started. 

But mostly the residents of Settle are clamouring to have their swimming pool back. 

Mike said: "People are very anxious to get back into the water. We have all these different groups including the local primary school that are looking forward to having the pool back. 

"We are hoping to get the building work completed fully soon, and then do some testing events. We are looking to have a big formal opening that will probably be towards the end of September." 

The Westmorland Gazette: The roof was damaged during Storm ArwenThe roof was damaged during Storm Arwen

The pool was originally built in 1974 when the local residents raised concerns that there were no nearby swimming poos for children to learn how to swim. 

It has been operated since then by trustees and sustained by local fundraising and support. 

In March 2021 Craven District Council gave the trustees £150,000 to help fund a health and well being extension to the building. 

It also underwrote a £135,000 loan to provide cashflow support in conjunction with a community fundraising campaign. 

The Westmorland Gazette: How the pool used to lookHow the pool used to look

Finally, Craven District Council successfully applied for £31,542 from Sport England's National Leisure Recovery Fund to invest in the pool. 

The pool managed to find contractors and work began in the summer of 2021.