This is why Covid-19 is keeping swimming pools in Knaresborough, Starbeck and Ripon shut

Harrogate Borough Council has said it is unable to reopen Ripon Spa Baths and Starbeck Baths - despite being given a government go-ahead two months ago - as staff are still supporting frontline services stretched by the pandemic.

It said Knaresborough Swimming Pool must also stay shut because repairs due to be carried out by engineers from Spain have been halted by coronavirus travel restrictions.

A council spokesman said: “Staff from across the leisure centres are still supporting frontline council services, such as looking after vulnerable people or assisting with waste and recycling collections.

“We currently have an issue with the pool filters at Knaresborough Swimming Pool that require attention. Given the complexity of the work involved specialist engineers were due to travel from Spain with the parts needed to complete the repair.

"Until the work is completed and we have staff available, the pool remains closed.”

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The government gave a go-ahead for leisure venues to reopen on 25 July, and the council welcomed back visitors to Harrogate Hydro and leisure centres in Pateley Bridge and Ripon.

The centres were only partially reopened for safety reasons, with services and classes making a phased return.

Some of the safety measures introduced at the reopened centres include time limits for gym and swim sessions, regular cleaning and changing rooms and lockers for swimmers only.

In July, the council approved plans to hand over management of its leisure centres to a council-controlled company in a move which it says will save £400,000 a year.

Under the plan, the council will also borrow £23million to upgrade some centres and build a new gym and swimming pool in Knaresborough at a to-be-confirmed location.

The new company - to be called Brimham’s Active - will launch by August 2021.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter