Riddings Hub to reopen as council commits to new swimming pool

Riddings Hub will reopen its gym, library and community facilities on Monday 2 November – with the council leader committing to building a new swimming pool for Scunthorpe, serving families in Brumby and surrounding communities including Bottesford, Yaddlethorpe and Messingham.

Work to make the roof safe at Riddings Hub has been completed, enabling the dry-side areas of the building to reopen.

The pool will remain closed after further investigations found the work needed to bring it back into use is far more extensive than first anticipated.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The answer isn’t to keep patching up a 50-year-old pool – the answer is to build a new one.

“Swimming matters to families across Brumby, Bottesford, Yaddlethorpe, Messingham and the surrounding communities, and we are committed to making sure they have a modern facility for the future.

“But this is also an opportunity to think differently about how we bring the services residents value together - creating a modern neighbourhood hub where people can swim, exercise, access community services and spend time together, rather than spreading those facilities across multiple buildings.

“Whether it’s someone from Ashby Parklands using the gym, a family from Bottesford picking up some books or children learning to swim, we want to make it easier for people to access the things that matter to them.

“In the meantime, I’m pleased we can get the gym, library and community spaces back open for residents.”

The council had originally planned a £1.2m refurbishment of Riddings, including improvements to the swimming pool and changing facilities.

However, after the pool was drained, intrusive surveys identified significant deterioration in the pool’s mechanical and electrical systems, much of which dates back to when the centre was first built in the 1970s.

Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for Ashby, Bottesford and Scunthorpe, said: “We are getting as much of Riddings Hub back into use as we can, with the gym, library, studio and community facilities reopening from 2 November.

“A refreshed programme of activities will also be introduced, with full details available online, and we’ll contact members directly with further information.”

The swimming pool will remain closed while plans for the new pool are developed.