West Craven Sports Center is receiving £119,000 to cover swimming pool costs

The leisure center on Kilbrook Road was one of two Pendle Council-owned public facilities to receive funding from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

It has been announced that Nelson company Wavelengths has received £233,973 from the first phase of the fund.

Councilor Asaad Mahmood, leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “With the rising costs of running our swimming pools, this is a very welcome boost.

“This means we can continue to provide excellent facilities for our residents which are vitally important as they contribute to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.”

Wavelengths and West Craven Sports Center are two of 196 publicly owned leisure facilities across England to receive Lottery-funded support.

Alison Judd, chief executive of Pendle Leisure Trust, which runs Pendle leisure centres, said: “We are delighted with the support from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

“It has been very difficult recently due to rising costs, and this funding will help us continue our mission of providing quality services and helping keep everyone active. Our swimming pools in particular are very popular with people of all ages.

MP for Pendle, Andrew Stevenson, said: “Rising energy costs have caused major problems for our local swimming pools, so ahead of the Budget, one of my main requests for the Chancellor was to provide our local leisure centers with additional support.

“I was delighted that the Chancellor announced the creation of a £60 million swimming pool support fund, and the news that £353,000 of that will be given to the Pendle Leisure Trust is fantastic news.”

North Yorkshire Council was asked whether Craven Leisure Pool in Skipton had received any of the funding.