Where will the pool be?
We are talking to Calderdale Council about Holmes Park, Luddenden Foot as a site for the pool. We are engaging with local people who use the park to see if they like the idea, where in the park they think it should be and find out what their concerns are. See this page for more on our ideas on how the pool could fit into a re-imagined Holmes Park.
The charity has spent over two years searching for a somewhere to build the pool and has considered over twenty possible sites. Most of these didn't work because we could not acquire the land or they were too inaccessible. One fell through because the neighbours did not like the idea. We are really hoping that the Holmes Park site works or we may have to look for sites further from the Hebden Royd area.
Who is the pool for?
The answer is "It's for everyone!". But mainly it is for the people of Calderdale, especially those who use Holmes Park in Luddenden Foot. There will be people who come from further afield to enjoy our beautiful pool and we will welcome them, but it is primarily for local people. We're very keen that the pool is accessible for everyone, whether you're old or young, neurodiverse, hard of hearing or sight, not so mobile. We want to be sure everyone within our diverse community can access and use the pool.
Why a natural pool?
Natural pools have a very low environmental footprint. They use little energy, do not use damaging chemicals and the separate water regeneration area can provide a habitat to encourage biodiversity; so they are more sustainable.
A natural pool is easier to maintain so has lower running costs than a traditional indoor pool. It can be cheaper to build. This will make it easier to make the swimming pool sustainable financially.
Natural swimming pools are healthy. They have lower risk for certain infections than traditional pools and don't suffer from the hazards of chlorine such as asthma, cancer, reproductive issues and skin ageing. Cold water swimming has documented health benefits. Experience of swimming in a natural pool can help with prevention of drowning in open water.
A natural pool could also help with rainwater management.
What will it look like?
Natural pools come in all sorts of shapes and sizes from the very natural like a pond to a lido style. We are working with the local community to co-design a natural swimming pool which meets local people's wishes and needs and will be in keeping with the setting of the park.
How will you ensure people don't drown?
Safety is our top priority and we will get expert advice at every stage of the design and operation of the pool. Examples that we have thought about already include fencing to ensure that people and animals cannot fall in accidentally, a clearly visible real time water temperature display, supervision of swimming by qualified life guards, regular testing of the water, keeping the swimming area free of weeds, training sessions to help people swim safely in open water. The pool will be shallow enough for people to stand up.
Providing a carefully designed and managed outdoor swimming environment may help prevent people getting into difficulty by trying to swim in remote reservoirs which are often cold, deep and have submerged objects
Will the water be heated?
The main pool will not be heated because this takes a lot of energy and would make it less environmentally friendly. Typical temperatures in the summer will be around 18-20oC - that's a comfortable room temperature. There are over four million people in the UK who enjoy dipping in colder water (for instance in the winter) and find it helps both their physical and mental health.
We are considering a sauna and potentially a wood or solar heated hot tub on the site. We'd be keen to hear your ideas about this.
Will it be noisy?
Our ambition is for the pool to be a quiet tranquil space. There may be occasional summer afternoons where there is more bustle but we don't anticipate that the pool will make any more noise than children in the playground or football matches.
How big and deep will the pool be?
The area where people swim will be at least 25 metres by 10 metres - about the same size as the pools in Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden but with a lot less infrastructure. A wetland area of about the same size will clean the water and some space will be needed for changing rooms, showers and toilets. Altogether this would occupy around a tenth (10%) of the area of the park that lies between the football pitch and the road bridge.
The design is not complete but we envisage that the pool will have areas with different depths ranging from shallow to 1.4m, ie a depth where adults can easily stand up.
How will you keep the water clean?
Natural pools use chemical-free, natural processes to keep the water clean. There are several ways to do this which have been proven in hundreds of public natural pools in Germany, Austria and the USA. These often involve moving the water through a bed of pebbles; a "biofilm" forms on the pebbles and this cleans the water, helped by plants and certain aquatic algae. See our blog for some more information.
How much will it cost to build?
We are working on the business plan but our preliminary budget is ~£400,000 for the pool itself with another £250,000 for ancillaries - toilets, fencing, playground, safety equipment etc. A domestic size natural pool can cost as little as £10,000 and a big, complex, public one over 10,000,000. The one we build will definitely cost more than the first and less than the second. One of our core values is to make the development financially sustainable so we will be doing some rigorous business planning. We'll keep the community updated on cost estimates.
Who is going to pay for the pool?
The money to pay for the pool has been raised by the people of Calderdale over many decades. This will cover the capital investment to create the pool. The day to day expense of running and maintaining the pool will be met from fees to use the pool and sauna, sale of goods, lessons, letting the pool for events, memberships and maybe a cafe. We will have discounts for local people, children and young people as well as for those on lower incomes.
Is anyone making money from the project?
The pool is being created by the Hebden Royd and District Swimming Pool Association, a long-established local charity. We employ local suppliers whenever possible. Any money that is made over and above the running and maintenance costs will be reinvested in the local community to further its charitable aims.
How long will it take to build?
We are aiming to get planning permission by the end of 2026 and hope to build the pool in 2027 with gates opening 2028
What about traffic and parking?
We will minimise use of cars for transport to the pool by offering discounts to people who walk or come by public transport, discouraging cars in all our publicity and siting the pool in a place which is easy to reach by walking, cycle or bus.
The pool will only be able to accommodate around twenty people at any one time - less than the number of people who use the football pitch. Swimming is a social activity and usually two or more people will share a car. Also many athletic people prefer to cycle or walk to using a car.
We have been monitoring parking on Station Road and have always found around five spaces there, even with the little car park next to the canal shut and we do not anticipate more than around 5 cars at any one time. We can avoid opening the pool whilst football matches are on to reduce parking pressure
We are considering building a small car park for disabled users.
Will my children be able to have lessons?
We are keen to offer lessons to help children and adults to learn about swimming safely in open water. There are pools not far from Hebden Royd, at Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden which have excellent swimming lessons for beginners. This new pool would complement, rather than replicate the services and facilities offered by these indoor pools. We would also hope to offer introductions to outdoor swimming and a shallow paddling area for little ones.
What happens if the park floods?
When the park floods, the pool may be contaminated with polluted water from the canal and river. The experts who we have consulted suggest it may take up to a month for the pollution to clear so we would have to close the pool until it was safe and clean for people to use.
Why is it not in Mytholmroyd Community Centre car park?
Some years ago, before the new trustees joined the board, there was discussion about location of a traditional, covered pool in the car park of Mytholmroyd community centre. There are various issues with this location including flood management and noise for neighbours. The Mytholmroyd Community Association is unwilling to consider providing a home for the pool. These factors have led the HRDSPA to rule their car park out as a potential location.
Recent history of the HRDSPA
Following the decision of Mytholmroyd Community Centre not to host the swimming pool in their car park, COVID hit and two members of the board died, so there was very little progress. In the summer of 2023, Nick Wilding and Dorothy Sutcliffe (the two surviving trustees), called a small consultation meeting of around a dozen people with an interest in swimming. From that a vision and values statement was drafted. Three new people have been appointed as trustees (Clara Collett, Louise Heppleston and Maggie Smallwood) at an AGM held 14 November 2023 in Hebden Bridge Town Hall. Our two priorities for the coming six months are (1) to find a site and (2) consult with the local community.
Where is the money that local people have raised?
The money that has been raised over many years has been invested in low risk, responsible bonds and equities. The funds are being looked after by Castlefield, an ethical investment company based in Manchester, which specialises in looking after funds for charities. Cresswells accountants are contracted to provide a financial report annually. These reports are publicly available on Companies House and our own website.
Who controls the HRDSPA?
The HRDSPA is run by a charitable company limited by guarantee, Hebden Royd and District Swimming Pool Association Limited. The Directors of the company are also Trustees of the charity. The Trustees are regulated by the Charity Commission and Companies House. The Directors are elected for a term of three years by the members of the company. Anyone aged over 16 can join as a member - just drop us an email. This is the same structure as Hebden Bridge Town Hall.
How can I get involved?
The Hebden Royd and District Swimming pool is welcoming new members. We are also looking for volunteers to help in various roles especially people who have skills in any of the following: Public relations and marketing, legal affairs, wetland and water management, biodiversity, social impact measurement, planning, financial management, managing volunteers, fund raising, health and safety. Contact info@hebdenroydpool.org