Appleby Leisure Centre and swimming pool is to benefit from a major refurbishment but will have to close for eight weeks from this weekend while the work is carried out.
Eden District Council and GLL, who run the centre, have decided to shut the facilities over the summer while the £150,000 modernisation is carried out.
Doug Huggon, the council’s leisure and community services manager, said: “We are sorry to have to close the pool at summertime but everyone will benefit in the long run.
“We apologise for the short notice. We realise the closure will inconvenience members and customers and will work with them to minimise the effects.”
He added: “”We were only had confirmation that the work could go ahead on Thursday July 11th. We immediately started informing customers and discussing arrangements for using facilities in Penrith. Those who do not wish to do so have been able to freeze their gym membership.
“Clearly there is no ideal time to close a leisure facility, but it is worth noting that swimming pool use can be lower during the summer months and school swimming lessons take place during term time.”
The leisure centre and pool, which opened in 1995, attracts more than 45,000 visitors each year and is popular with schools, residents and visitors. The building and all activities will close to the public at 5.30pm this Sunday, July 21.
During the refurbishment the viewing area will be modernised to create a clean, warm and visible place to watch the pool events.
The changing village will feel more spacious as block walls are replaced with hygienic cubicle panelling and a new lighting scheme. Accessible changing and washroom facilities will be complemented with a new vanity area. And new £1 coin return lockers will be larger and more accessible.
GLL is contacting customers in order to minimise the effect of the closure with gym memberships frozen for the period to avoid people paying during the closure.
