A MASSIVE £1.8 million plan to transform Skipton's Aireville Pool into a modern leisure complex has been approved by Craven District Council.

The first £500,000 phase of the project involves a much-needed facelift for the 36-year-old pool and its building, including a complete re-tiling and replacement of machinery.

But a far more ambitious modernisation programme has been drawn up, with plans to install a water flume, create a new "changing village", improve disabled access and provide a new cafe area.

These additional plans are subject to the success of a bid being put in to the sports lottery fund - the second attempt at getting lottery cash for the council.

Officers and councillors were "disappointed and angry" when the Sports Council rejected a bid to help out with plans for a new £4 million twin pool complex last year, even after offering advice on applying.

A far less demanding bid for around £300,000, if granted, would add to the rest of the money already obtained from central government, thanks to a successful "Capital Challenge" bid.

The initial £500,000 refurbishment is to be held back until 1999/2000 in order to wait for the result of the Sports Lottery bid, but will definitely go ahead whatever the decision.

The pool plans are part of a wider package of improvements for the Aireville Park area as a whole.

These take in the stretch of canal from the town centre to the park in a bid to minimise car journeys by encouraging pedestrian access along the canal towpath, which will get new lighting, seating and resurfacing.

A meeting of the council's Community Services Committee on Wednesday approved all the plans for the next two years.

Committee chairman, Coun Beth Graham, said: "A considerable amount of research and feasibility work was done to underpin the original lottery bid.

"We know that people want a more modern and exciting pool, improved sports facilities, a better park and decent and safe access, for all groups, to the facilities.

"This is what we are going to deliver. The work on the park is well under way, and when this project is finished, we will have one of the best locations for sport and recreation in the county, and a pool, park and canal the whole of Craven can be proud of."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.