Wait goes on to get back in pool

James Wheelhouse decorating his new office at the St Annes YMCA swimming pool.

After four months and £625,000 of refurbishments, the seafront YMCA facility was set to open its doors to the public again on Monday, January 6.

But the work has taken longer than expected and contractors have been working overtime to get the refurbishments completed.

While a civic reopening of the building will go ahead as planned on Monday and the public will be able to take a look around and make bookings that day and throughout next week, the actual facilities won’t be available for public use until a community celebration open day, offering free use, five days later, on Saturday, January 11.

The improvements include new changing facilities, improved spectator seating, a new café and social space and an enhanced entrance and reception area.

James Wheelhouse, the new general manager, said: “We know our customers are keen to get inside the centre and take a look so we will be opening the doors for the first five days to give them the opportunity to come and see first hand just how far the centre has come since we closed for the re-development in September.

“The Mayor will be officially unveiling the centre on January 6 and then the community open day will give local people the opportunity to enjoy the new facilities for the first time and for free.”

More than 250 children are booked in to begin swimming lessons at the pool from Monday, January 13 and it will be the venue on January 26 for the Lytham St Annes Lions annual charity swimarathon, in which hundreds of swimmers will be taking part.

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