Hull leisure centre to remain shut until next year

A Hull leisure centre will remain closed until next year after structural issues were discovered during a major refit.

Ennerdale Leisure Centre was shut in May 2025 for work to improve the building's energy-efficiency. It was expected to reopen this summer.

However, Hull City Council has said it would remain closed into next year after "multiple sections of the swimming pool pipework were found in a significantly poorer condition than initially expected".

Kingston upon Hull Swimming Club, which previously used the facility as its central base, said the ongoing closure posed a financial burden for the club, its members and the wider community.

In a statement, the local authority said: "After extensive investigation and careful consideration, a decision has been made to undergo a full replacement of the pipework, rather than partial repairs which would likely result in further disruption, emergency works and additional costs in the future.

"This approach, alongside works to fully replace the existing original glazing, funded by Sports England, as well as refurbishment of the building to provide improved facilities for residents and users will extend the project completion date into 2027."

Until its closure, Ennerdale acted as the the swimming club's main base for training, and hosting competitions, galas and community events.

Club chairwoman Sarah Clausen said she was told by the council last month that work on the roof and double glazing was yet to begin, and would take up to eight months to complete once started.

She said the lack of information from the authority on a firm reopening date meant ongoing uncertainty, and the club was planning on the assumption the pool could be unavailable for another year or even longer.

"We have no guarantee that Ennerdale will be open next April," she said.

"It's a financial a burden for the committee, all of our volunteers and families."

She said families faced additional expenses including travel, accommodation and higher entry fees, which risked making the sport less accessible.

Clausen said swimmers had been forced to travel further afield, leaving people, particularly those in east Hull, facing higher costs.

Weekly sessions have moved to another Hull venue, on Albert Avenue, but swimming galas, held about three times a year, have to be hosted at bigger facilities in Leeds or Sheffield.

"We have a lot of families from quite deprived areas of the city, and certainly that has an impact," said Clausen.

"We have to charge significantly more per race in these galas to cover the costs of hire.

"We hired Pond Forge in Sheffield at Easter, and it cost us £15,000 for a two-day gala. So we have to work really hard as a committee to try to recoup all of those costs."

The council said regular users, clubs and organisations would be contacted about alternative facilities across the city during the work, which includes upgrading the pool hall windows and repairs to the small pool – financed by a £750,000 grant from Sport England.

Jackie Dad, the authority's deputy leader, said: "I appreciate it has been a frustrating time waiting for this scheme to be completed and, like all users of the site, I am extremely keen to see it back up and running again as soon as possible."

She said the work was essential for "ensuring a reliable long-term solution whilst also reducing the risk for further repairs in the future".

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