News & Events

We have places available in the Summer Intensive Swimming Course. There are 2 weeks of group lesson courses and two weeks of 1 to 1 lessons These are booked in a weekly block and paid for in advance by direct debit only.

The times and places available will be on a first come first served basis.

Children age 4 to16 years Group course week 1 is from 4th August to the 7th August cost £35.00
Children age 4 to16 Group course week 2 is from 11th August to the 14th August cost £35.00
These courses will run from Monday to Thursday mornings half an hour time slots from 9am to 12pm. 

All ages 1 to 1 course week 1 is on the 6th, 7th August cost £51.50
All ages 1 to 1 course week 2 is on the 13th and 14th August cost £51.50
These courses will run half an hour time slots from 12 pm until early evening the final time slot to be confirmed.
If you would like to book a place please email swimlessons@settleswimmingpool.co.uk
We look forward to welcoming you to our Summer Intensive Swimming Lessons.

When Settle Pool opened in 1975 the cost of a swim on a Saturday was 15p for children and 25p for adults. To mark the 50th anniversary of the opening and as part of the carnival on JUNE 21, the pool is going one better and offering FREE SWIMS all day.

The 45 minute sessions start at 10am, with the final one beginning at 3pm. You can book now through the pool website https://www.settleswimmingpool.co.uk/ but hurry as places are limited. And whether you are enjoying a free swim or not, come along and celebrate at the carnival by the pool. It will be a great day.

FUND-RAISING SHOP DONATION POINT EXTENDED HOURS

Following the successful move of the swimming pool charity shop donation point to Unit 4 of the Sowarth Industrial Estate  (opposite Arla and just beyond the council recycling centre), from next week - June 9, we are extending our opening hours.

The new opening times will be:

Monday 5.30pm - 7.30pm;

Tuesday 9.30am-6.30pm;

Wednesday closed;

Thursday 5.30pm -7.30pm;

Friday 9.30am - 5pm;

Saturday closed;

Sunday 11am - 3pm.

The unit will be open for sales and donations at these times. Please do not leave donations at other times.

Celebrations to mark Settle Area Swimming Pool’s fiftieth anniversary got off to a flying start with an auction at the North Ribblesdale Rugby Club on   June 6 that raised £1,752 for pool funds.

Professional auctioneer Bretten Lord of Lords Courtyard tempted ever higher bids for items donated by pool supporters and local businesses. These included a week’s holiday in a Scottish cottage, two halves of lamb, and hampers of food and of beauty products.

Our thanks to all those who came along to the event and especially to the local business and supporters who were so generous with their donations. 

The June 2025 draw was made by Bretten Lord at the North Ribblesdale Rugby Club at the start of the auction held as part of the pool’s 50^th anniversary celebration.

The winners were:

No. 16 Jeanette Gudger   £80

No. 160 Tony Venn    £50

No. 69 Linda Buckley      £30

Congratulations to the winners, who have been notified, and thanks to all 200 club members for their support for the pool.🎈

Jack Illingworth, a year five pupil at Settle Primary School, is celebrating after designing the winning poster in a competition to promote Settle Area Swimming Pool’s fiftieth anniversary carnival. Jack’s poster will be seen around the area over the next few weeks as the pool steps up preparations for the carnival on June 21 that marks fifty years since the opening of the community-funded pool.

The pool, which continues to enjoy massive local support, was built largely as a result of local fund-raising that included regular town carnivals. The event on Saturday June 21, which will be held in the car park in front of the pool and field behind (thanks to Settle College,) will seek to recreate the spirit of those early events. A wide range of local organisations will be represented and there will be food and drink stalls as well as entertainment – such as the young farmers’ ducking stool and the ever popular crockery smashing stall. The Giggleswick and Settle Brass Band will be playing and Bretton Lord, of Lords Courtyard will act as compere.

Jack’s poster was chosen from a large number of entries by Settle Primary School pupils. All the designs are now on display in the poolside café. Winning the competition means that Jack will now enjoy a pool party for himself and his friends. 

The reason the community came together all those years ago to help fund a community swimming
pool was to ensure local children were able to learn to swim safely and so avoid accidents in the River Ribble that runs close by, so it is appropriate that Jack learnt to swim at the pool, which he has been attending since he was just a few months old, taken by his mother to the splashing tots sessions.

Wow! 

Things are coming together nicely for the Settle Area Swimming Pool 50th Anniversary Carnival on SATURDAY JUNE 21. 10am-4pm at the pool, in the carpark and in the field behind.

What we need to know:

If you want to book a space in the car boot sale that will form part of the event contact info@settleswimming pool.co.uk as soon as possible (there will be a £10 booking fee and a strict limit on numbers)

If your organisation wants a stall and haven’t booked yet get in touch again through info@settleswimmingpool.co.uk by May 11 at the latest ( a small admin charge applies)
If you can help on the day, for instance giving out programmes, or helping steward, again let us know – the same address

What to expect:

* Games, including the young farmers ducking stool and the crockery smashing stall

* Music with Giggleswick and Settle Brass Band

* Food and drink stalls

* Children’s fancy dress parade and competition (get your costume ready).

* Bouncy castle

* Much more besides

Auction on the 6th June

And before all that we’ll be starting our 50th anniversary celebrations with a grand auction at North Ribblesdale Rugby Union club on Friday June 6 starting at 7pm. Save the date and look out for details.

The Settle Area Swimming Pool spring newsletter is now available to read here Our Newsletters.

This issue includes news of plans for our 50th anniversary celebrations; a report on changes to the way we collect donations for our charity shops; our plan for the next five years; and our response to the customer survey conducted earlier this year.

We have now published our business plan for the next five years and, alongside that, details of the customer survey conducted earlier this year that helped inform the business plan.

You can read the plan here SASP Business Plans and the survey here Customer Surveys

The business plan reflects on the fact that, despite many obstacles, we achieved far more over the past five years than we thought possible when the earlier plan for the period  2020 -2025 was adopted. We now look forward to a period of building on our achievements and the opportunities for further developments in the longer term.

The customer survey showed that in general you are happy with what we do. There were specific issues on pricing, water temperature and variations in the timetable. These and other issues are addressed in the report on the survey.

Trustee Chair Chris Hirst makes the April 200 club draw with help from treasurer Rosie Sanderson.

The winners were:
No. 129 Susan Hayes £80
No. 182 Anne Woods £50
No 56 Angela Campbell £30

Congratulations to the winners, who have been notified, and thanks to all 200 club members for their support for the pool

The March 2025 draw was made at the monthly meeting of the pool trustees by pool manager Tash Ward. The winners were:
No. 130 Ann Bott £80
No. 20 Olwyn Bolger £50
No 24 Kathryn Huck £30

Congratulations to the winners, who have been notified, and thanks to all 200 club members for their support for the pool.🎈

Charity shop donations – new collection site. New arrangements for collecting donations for the pool charity shops come into force from the end of March.

From March 28 we will no longer collect donations at the containers in the pool carpark.

The new collection point is at Unit 4 on the Sowarth Industrial Estate BD24 9FQ (opposite Arla and next to the council recycling centre). If you use ‘what three words’ the location is at frogs.offstage.stupidly

Opening times remain Tuesday and Friday mornings 9.30am – 12.30pm.

The new arrangement will provide more space to accept and sort donations ready for taking to the two shops in the centre of Settle, or, where appropriate, sale on line. It will also make it easier for volunteers, who up to now have had to work outdoors in all weathers. 

To get to the new site from the pool turn left out of the carpark; bear right after the bridge (Kirkgate) follow the road round and turn right  before the bridge; right again at the junction and right after the  Land Rover garage.

Scan this QR code for a map.

Settle Pool  50^th anniversary carnival: The carnival to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Settle Area Swimming Pool will be held on Saturday 21 June.

It was originally planned to hold the event the following day but it has been brought forward to avoid clashing with the Hellifield Harness Races.

The pool event will run from 10am to 4pm and involve events at the pool, in the carpark and on the field behind the building.

Individuals who are able to volunteer to help on the day and local organisations that would like to take part are asked to get in touch through info@settleswimmingpool.co.uk

A GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT

We are running a special Promotion over the festive period from the 2nd of December to the 31st of January. 

Indulge in food and drink at Christmas by all means but think about what comes after too, so why not take up our festive fitness offer. For the price of just £50 you can now purchase a gift card from us which allows eight sessions for any of our dry side fitSpace classes or for use in the new gym

The ideal gift for yourself or someone you care about.

Gift vouchers will be available at the Pool from Monday the 2nd of December just ask at reception.

North Yorkshire says Let’s Talk Active

North Yorkshire Council is currently running an on-line survey to help understand what residents need from local leisure facilities in order to help them be more active. The council also wants to understand the things that prevent people from being active so it can make physical activity more accessible for everyone.  The council says that what you tell them can influence where resources and efforts should be focused. This can lead to improved facilities and programmes that better meet the community’s needs. It would be good to have a strong input from this area where council services are limited and leisure facilities are mainly provided by voluntary community groups, such as the pool and sports teams. You can access the survey by going to www.northyorks.gov.uk/LetsTalk . There is no specific mention of the pool on the list of leisure centres but you can write it in if this is the main place where you take exercise . The survey closes on November 4.

Join us for Tea and Cakes Scones, Savouries and Tombola.

At Langcliffe Village Institute

Sunday 29th September 2-4:30pm
All are welcome Proceeds to Settle Area Swimming Pool

Our local swimmer Jonny Green is taking on the English Channel in September and fundraising for Settle Pool.

He will be crossing the entire 21 miles of water from England to France, accompanied only by a guide boat carrying supporters, and braving one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Undeterred by hazards of the deep including swarms of stinging jellyfish, Jonny has been training for this incredible journey all year.

He has swum a huge number lengths of our pool to build up for the crossing, and his final training session will be in the Scilly Isles.

Please show your support for his dedication and generosity by donating here https://www.justgiving.com/page/jonathan-green-channel-swim2024

Good luck Jonny!

A new gymnasium is to be set up at Settle Pool helping fulfil the long-term aim to create a facility that is ‘more than just a pool’.

The trustees have agreed to invest around £24,000 in a range of equipment that will be permanently housed in the smaller part of the fitSpace area nearer the pool. The larger section, nearer the carpark, will continue to be used for fitness classes and a wide range of activities including meetings and toddler play sessions.

It is expected that the costs of the new equipment will be recouped within two years maximum and that thereafter income from the gym will help reduce the overall running costs, making the pool more economic to run.

The need for a gym alongside the swimming pool was recognised eight years ago when plans were considered to redevelop the building that was opened in 1975 and was then beginning to show its age. Adding a gym to the building was strongly supported in a survey conducted at that time and is recognised as a good investment at many other public pools across the country.

The eight pieces of equipment, which are due to be delivered in the next few weeks, will be suitable for use both by beginners, who have not used gyms before, and those who train regularly.

A trial and test period will follow the installation of the equipment. It is expected that the official opening will take place later this summer.

Prices for gym membership and offers including use of the gym and pool will follow as will arrangements for induction sessions.

Centre manager Tash Ward said: “We are delighted by this development. It is a further big step forward for us. We hope that as well as offering something more for our regular users, the new facility will help us reach out to groups that want to boost their fitness but have not used the pool to date.”

Treasurer Rosie Sanderson said: “We are now able to make this investment thanks to all the work that has been done over the past few months to put pool finances on a much stronger footing. As well as drawing more people to the pool it will provide an important additional source of revenue. In any event the equipment has a high resale value and could always be sold in the unlikely event that the project does not prove as popular as we hope it will.”

Joint chair of the trustees Chris Hirst said: “All staff, volunteers and trustees continue to look at what we provide, so we can sustain and keep improving the benefits to our community."

The pool annual meeting held on July 18 was told that following last winter’s financial crisis, Settle Area Swimming Pool is now operating on a sound footing.

Pool users and supporters heard that a number of measures had helped avert the crisis that at one point threatened the closure of the centre.

The drop in energy prices had been a major factor with the monthly gas bill now half the £5,000 it had been earlier in the year. Other factors identified by outgoing chair Colin Coleman were the £27,000 in donations received, mainly as a result of fund-raising events; a revised insurance policy that had freed up £40,000 for investment; and the £21,000 from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund that had been used to extend the bank of solar panels and as a result would cut energy bills still further. The two charity shops that raise more than £80,000 a year and are staffed entirely by volunteers remain crucial to the success of the pool.

The meeting was told that the number of centre users was up, especially in the fitness classes and that thanks to the efforts of staff and trustees the pool was now operating more efficiently.

Several trustees stepped down at the annual meeting, including chair Colin Coleman. A plea was made for pool supporters to consider standing as trustees next year when treasurer Rosie Sanderson is due to step down and a replacement will be needed for that crucial role.

Chris Hirst and Mike Smith are now joint chair of trustees and Ken Larkins and Ian Dryburgh have joined the board – Ian as vice chair. The retiring trustees Iain Crossley and Rob Brown were thanked for their contribution and special mention was made of former trustee Elaine Owen who sadly died earlier this year, after making a great contribution especially in the areas of health and safety and insurance.

The annual meeting coincided with the 50^th anniversary of the start of work on the pool building in 1974 and to mark the occasion Chris Petrie, whose father, Kevin, chaired the trustees for a number of years spoke of his family’s contribution to the pool and read a piece on pool history written by his father a number of years ago.

Come and enjoy a fundraising barbecue and concert on Friday 23 August with Revival of the Fittest, a popular local Settle based Rock & Roll/Blues band formed by 5 friends who love to play music together.

Following on from the incredible success of last year’s fund-raising event for the Settle Mobile Cancer unit (Hope For tomorrow). This year they are putting on an event for “The Victoria Hall”, “Settle Swimming Pool” and “The Principal Trust Children’s Charity”.  With the help of the Victoria Hall the band have been able organise a wonderful fund-raising night. We will be playing songs from the 50’s-60’s-70’s onwards, that everyone will know and enjoy. All profits will be shared by these three important charities.

Tickets are Adults £10.00 Children £2.50 and can be purchased at the Victoria Hall ticket office, or on-line at  https://www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk/eventsandshows/beer-barbie-and-bop-230824

Tickets will also be on-sale at both of our Settle Pool Charity shops on Settle main street and here at the pool itself.

The event will kick-off at 5.30pm with an outdoor barbeque in Miss Victories Gardens next to the hall (Weather Permitting). If it’s raining, don’t worry, we can move indoors. The band will start at 7.00pm.

A second bank of solar panels has now been installed on the pool roof, generating more electricity and so helping cut our fuel bills.

The project was funded by the £21,000 grant awarded to the pool in the second round of the Swimming Pool Support Fund administered by Sport England. This round of funding was aimed at making pools across the country more energy efficient.

The installation of the new bank of panels took place in early June, meaning the effect will be felt immediately  during the summer months, when most electricity will be generated.

Thanks to Emma Lonsdale for the drone photographs showing the new bank of panels on the roof nearest the car park. 

Pool finances have also been boosted recently by the expected reduction in the latest gas bill as a result of the fall in wholesale gas prices.

An update on the overall state of pool finances will be given to the pool annual meeting to be held  in the fitSpace area on Thursday July 18 starting at 7pm

Settle Area Swimming Pool is looking for a number of new trustees.

Several of the group who saw through the major transformation of the pool in recent years have already stepped down and a number of others, including Colin Coleman the current chair, are due to do so at the annual meeting in July, which will mark the 50^th anniversary of start of work on construction of the  building in 1974.

The main requirement for all trustees is a commitment to the continuing success of the pool as a resource for the whole community.

In addition each trustee is expected to bring a degree of experience and expertise that helps ensure the effective operation of the organisation.

The trustees are all volunteers and as such not paid, though where necessary they can claim out of pocket expenses.

At present the full board of trustees meets one evening a month at the pool, but much of the work is done through four groups. These deal with finance, facilities, people and publicity. Each group meets on a monthly basis with individuals undertaking various tasks between meetings.

Because the pool is a charitable incorporated organisation, trustees have certain important responsibilities but are not legally responsible for instance for any debts.

New trustees will be subject to election at the annual meeting  on  July 18 , as will those who have completed their three year term of office but wish to stay on.

If you are interested in becoming a trustee or just want to have a chat, without obligation get in touch the Ian Orton, the secretary through secretary@settleswimmingpool.co.uk or call him on 07841 577 991.

The pool has received a grant of £20,000 as part of the second phase of the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund. This phase is specifically aimed at helping pools become more energy efficient and the Settle money will be used to extend our bank of solar panels, which have helped cut our electricity bill since being installed two years ago.

Commenting on the award pool chair Colin Coleman said: "We are delighted that Settle Pool has been successful in our bid for funding from the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund. This grant will enable us to add to our bank of solar panels and so both reduce our energy costs and make the pool more environmentally efficient.

"The award is a welcome boost to our efforts to address the serious financial problems that we have faced in recent months. We were of course disappointed that we did not receive funding in the first round of bids to the Swimming Pool Support Fund, which was aimed at helping pools facing rising costs, but have been heartened by the way the local community has rallied round to show their support for the pool in recent months.

“All our efforts to turn round a difficult financial situation are starting to bear fruit. We are by no means out of the wood and still need to make more efforts to ensure our long term future. But things are now looking better and this grant, whilst not directly related to day-to-day funding, does show a degree of support for the pool from this national body which is very welcome."

You can read the full Sport England announcement here: https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/swimming-pool-support-fund-helps-facilities-prepare-future

The North Yorkshire Council statement is here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/2024/cash-awards-help-energy-efficiency-four-swimming-pools

Settle Rotary Club President Colin Renwick joined pool manager Tash Ward on the new spin bikes now in use for classes at Settle Pool, to present a cheque for £2,000 resulting from the club’s recent Merry-Go-Round dinner, at which diners go from venue to venue for each course of a three course meal.

The donation is a further welcome boost to pool funds following the recent financial crisis, which at one time looked as though it might threaten the pool with imminent closure.

Tash said: “We are grateful to Settle Rotary for this generous donation. It not only helps us keep going but allows us to acquire equipment like the spinbikes that ensure we can offer more facilities for more groups and develop our standing as much more than just a pool.”

Our New Spring Newsletter has arrived hot off the press. To read up on all the latest news at the pool please follow this link > Our Newsletters (settleswimmingpool.co.uk)

Settle Pool has once again entered a team in Skipton Rotary Dragon Boat Regatta to be held at Coniston Hall Lake on Sunday May 12.

This time we are raising funds to provide gym equipment for our new fitSpace area, ensuring that we live up to our billing as ‘more than just a pool’.

The local community  rallied round splendidly as we faced a financial crisis last winter. Thanks to that support and a range of measures we have taken things are starting to look up.

But we now need to ensure that the pool operates on a long-term sustainable basis and that means making full use of all our facilities.

Our exercise classes are increasingly popular as are our pool-based activities. But what we now need is to hire a range of gym equipment so we can offer more to all sections of the local community and help the pool live up to its full potential.

That is what our team will be paddling for at Coniston Hall on May 12.

You can help firstly by sponsoring our paddlers, here at our just giving page

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sasp-dragonboat-2024

You can also come along to Coniston Hall on May 12 to show your support for our team races start at 10am

Importantly, if you are really up for it we would like you to volunteer to join the paddlers squad.  You can do that by contacting 07790 534327 to register your interest and by joining the first paddlers' team meeting at the Golden Lion on Tuesday 9th April at 7p.m.

Sacrum Cor Present A Programme Of Sacred Choral Works In Memory of Phil Smith, this will be held on the 9th of March at St Alkelda’s Church in Giggleswick

Settle Pool is delighted to have been given a £4,000 award by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

The Clapham-based charity whose aims are to look after the spectacular Dales landscape, support local communities and help everyone enjoy and understand the Dales says’ the award is made in recognition of how your organisation aligns with YDMT’s charitable aims, specifically to support people to live in, visit and care for the Dales. The awards have been made possible thanks to funding we have received from People’s Postcode Lottery.’

Commenting on the award pool chair Colin Coleman said: ‘This generous award is further recognition of the role of the pool in the life of our local communities. It comes at a time when we have been facing particularly severe financial difficulties and, along with the many other measures that we have taken in recent months and the exceptional response of our supporters and users means that we have been able to reduce our on- going losses and, whilst we have further work to do, we are now in a much better position than we were just a few weeks ago.’

You can now help support the pool by not sending greeting cards to your friends and family.

Settle Area Swimming Pool is one of many national and local charities that has signed up to                            Don’tSendMeACard.com

 It works like this. When that special occasion is coming up instead of buying a card and a stamp, go to  Settle Area Swimming Pool eCards | DontSendMeACard.com and choose an appropriate design from their wide selection. They will send the electronic card for you and in return you  make a donation of the amount you would otherwise have spent – or indeed however much you wish  - to the pool.

 It is as easy as that. 

So whether it is a birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day, or Christmas time, your loved one gets their greeting from you and the pool gets a donation.

And don’t forget you can also help the pool when you shop on line.

Read how at: How Can I Help? - Settle Area Swimming Pool (settleswimmingpool.co.uk)

Settle Pool is to lift the one hour time limit for some swimming sessions, on a trial basis, during March.

This is in response to requests from a number of pool users, and in particular a contribution to the recent open evening.

From March 4 for four weeks, the two one-hour early morning lane swimming sessions on Mondays and Thursdays will be merged into a single two hour ‘early lane swim’ on each of the two days. 

When making a booking you will not need to state your arrival time, or if you prefer you can turn up at the time that suits you and pay at the desk.  Whether you stay in the water for the full two-hours (which is unlikely) or just half an hour, the prices will be the same. However, the bather limit of 12 for lane swims (four per lane) will still apply and if the number is reached no one else will be allowed into the pool until someone else has left.

At weekends there will be open swimming on Saturdays from 1.15pm to 3.15pm and on Sundays from 1.30pm – 3.35pm. Again you will be able to book in advance to take part in either session, or pay on arrival. Family bookings will also be possible and, as with all open swim sessions, the pool limit is 35.

See the next 2 weeks timetable here.

Users will be asked for feedback after their swim and a decision made subsequently on whether or not to continue with this experiment.

The 200 club has been an important fund raiser for Settle Pool for many years.  Each year members pay a sum, this year it is £30 per number, with half the proceeds going to the pool and the other half going into a number of prize draws during the year, with a bumper draw just before Christmas.

This year there have been far more people wanting numbers than the 200 limit can accommodate, and so, for this year only, we have set up a new 'Super 30 Club'. The cost of £30 per number will be the same as for the 200 club and again, half the proceeds will go in prizes and the other half will go to the pool.

Because there will be fewer people involved than in the 200 club itself, there will be just two draws during the year: two prizes of £100 each to be drawn in June and two further prizes of £100 each to be drawn in early December. There will also be a bonus draw in December, the amount of which will depend on the number joining but likely to be around £50.

Numbers were initially being offered to those who wished to join the 200 club, but other pool users and supporters can join. The closing date for entries will be February 29.

If you wish to join the Super 30 Club, please complete and return the form super-30-form-2024.docx (live.com) and make the payment as indicated.

Thanks for your support for the Pool.

Mike Smith

Settle Swimming Pool  Super 30 club organiser

A new community fund raising initiatives group is to be set up to help Settle Area Swimming Pool tackle its serious financial crisis. The picture above shows Chair of Trustees Colin Coleman (left) and Secretary Ian Orton addressing a packed room of pool supporters.

The move came out of the open evening on pool finances held on January 24 that was attended by well over a hundred pool supporters. 

The new group will consist mainly of volunteers whose task is both to come up with new ideas and implement some of the suggestions made at the open evening.

They will work closely with the pool trustees and aim to build on the many initiatives already in place. Supporters wishing to join the group, who have not already been in touch with Elaine Owen, should send their contact details to the secretary or leave a note at pool reception, or either of the two pool charity shops .

Pool chair Colin Coleman told the event that Settle pool was not alone in facing severe financial problems. He cited a recent Swim England report that showed that hundreds of public pools across England had closed in the past few years and predicted that many more would follow over the next decade.

Those attending the event were told the pool was currently loosing £10,000 a month. Much of this was due to a gas bill of around £6,000. The pool was in long-term contract with the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, the public sector procurement group that provides services to many organisations including schools and colleges. Whilst this had initially been very beneficial, prices were now well above the market rate. Despite efforts to get out of the contract, including the intervention of MP Julian Smith, it had proved impossible to do so before April 2025. Prices were expected to fall substantially in the spring when usage would also go down. But this alone would not cover the monthly deficit which would continue to eat into the reserves currently standing at around £75,000.

A range of measures has already been taken to increase income and cut costs. Following a health and safety inspection changes had been made to lifeguard coverage; the timetable had been revised to cut out badly attended sessions and increase the availability of the most popular ones. Plans were in hand for a promotional leaflet, financed by the Settle Stingrays group, to go to all households in the area via Royal Mail. A new membership scheme had been introduced to benefit regular users as well as increase predictable income. In the longer term the possibility of establishing and charging for a campervan park was being examined with Yorkshire Council – such a scheme had proved a major money maker for a comparable Scottish pool.

Usage of the pool and related fitSpace sessions had grown greatly over the past year but the greatest help that local people could give the pool was to make sure they, their families and neighbours used the pool more often.

Overall there were 24 contributions from those attending the event . These were summarised by secretary Ian Orton as follows:

1. Social media: The pool should make more use of social media and two people offered to help with managing Facebook etc.

2. Questions were asked about the reclaiming of VAT and VAT-able expenditure. The Treasurer responded.

3. A suggestion that the Pool Flyer could go out with Community News rather than Royal Mail. It was explained that Royal Mail covered every home in the catchment area of the pool.

4. Details were asked of the monthly deficit and the Treasurer explained it was around £10,000 a month and the way to close it was more users and reduce expenditure.

5. More details were requested about the duration of the deficit.

6. A request to remove time-restricted swim sessions was made

7. A suggestion was made to re-introduce The Friends of the Pool.

8. A question was raised about balances held by the pool. The Treasurer explained a Charity needed to hold around three months expenditure.

9. Details were shared of a levy being raised at a similar pool to Settle for car parking charges etc to generate revenue.

10. Several people spoke about charging for camper van parking and it was noted this suggestion was being investigated with North Yorkshire Council.

11. As the cost of gas heating is so high suggestions were made about reducing the temperature of the water. A response included comments about minimum temperatures etc for babies and older swimmers.

12. A request was made about how to regularly donate money to the pool. Booking forms for standing orders are available at pool reception and on the website here https://www.settleswimmingpool.co.uk/donate/

13. A mention was made of Patrons of Bradford Jazz Club and how the pool could recruit patrons.

14. One of the original founders of the pool spoke about the importance of the pool. She suggested income from camper vans should be chased up, and partnering with Settle United Junior Football who regularly use the car park during term time.

15. It was suggested there should be more publicity about the ability to donate to the pool.

16. A member of pool staff spoke about the loss of the pool would result in many young people not learning to swim and how a sponsored swim would bring in additional funds.

17. A local energy contractor spoke about energy audits and offered to help the pool with this process using his expertise.

18. Trustees offered to coordinate a fund raising group and requested volunteer help.

19. Questions were asked about the duration of and charges for the gas contract. The Treasurer explained the background to the gas contract with YPO and the unsuccessful efforts to get out of the contract before the end date of April 2025.

20. It was suggested that a Honesty Box in the car park might help with donations. The Secretary indicated he would approach North Yorkshire Council.

21. Comments were raised about Facebook and Trustees gave details of the history of the use of FB.

22. The Trustees were thanked for all their hard unpaid work.

23. A member of the Dragon Boat Team asked for more paddlers for the race on 12th May raising funds for the pool. The Secretary to circulate details.

24. Cllr David Staveley gave an update on the way North Yorkshire Council was helping the pool but pointed out these are challenging times.

Settle Rotary Club are supporting the pool with a very generous offer of fundraising at their annual Merry-Go-Round dinner on Friday 9 February. Thank you Settle Rotary!

For more details about Settle Rotary, click here