Friends of Bingley Pool

14/10/2026

We confirm that we've received the headline findings from the latest condition survey into Bingley Pool. The actual report itself has not yet been shared with us, so our scrutiny of it is limited as yet. However, £8.6m is only slightly above the estimates we published this summer, and is far below the rumoured costs we've heard over the years, including as high as £20m. It is achievable.

The key unanswered question here is Bradford Council's plans for almost £15m of Levelling Up Fund grant that was assigned to the now-cancelled Squire Lane project. That money is 'use it or lose it'. It cannot pay down council debt. It must be spent by 2028. Government ministers are happy for Bradford Council to redistribute it. Bingley Pool was the subject of Bradford's second LUF bid following that for Squire Lane. Until we have an answer regarding the usage for this funding, we cannot accept that the council has no budget to spend on Bingley Pool.

All parties campaigned in May to save Bingley Pool. We now have a price tag and a potential income stream that more than matches it. There is an opportunity here that should be taken, to the benefit of the town and district.

Update on future of Bingley Pool from Council Leader Cllr Stephen Place

“We have paused the sale of Bingley Pool at the request of Friends of Bingley Pool. We also commissioned an updated report on the condition of the building which we have now given to them. Currently Bingley Pool would need in the region of £8.6m to restore it to a condition which it could operate - not to improve or regenerate the site, just getting it back to a basic pre-closure condition and have the doors back open. It would then also need money to run and maintain it, money which is not in the Council's current budget.

“The site has no role in the Council's future sport and leisure strategy, and we have no proposal to spend any additional budget on it. There is currently no funding or route to funding to support the works needed to reopen and run the site.

“The Friends of Bingley Pool now have all the information they need to inform a business case or funding application, but it is now with them to identify over the coming months a way forward for the facility.”

12/10/2026

🌊 Last chance to email Bradford Council leadership before all 90 councillors meet on Wednesday! Send our easy email template to make the case for £15m of investment to come to Bingley.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VXzUJ49UPRUDOdnNnRro5dSVcLWTKemZ4ph2tvxol7o/edit?tab=t.0

🏊 We have a huge opportunity right now and we need your help to secure it. Find out more here:

https://savebingleypool.wordpress.com/2026/10/02/15m-is-on-the-table-heres-how-you-can-help-us-get-it/

Anna Dixon MP confirms that Bradford Council can redistribute £15m of unallocated government grant New surveys into Bingley Pool commissioned by Bradford Council Email your councillor today using o…

09/10/2026

🏊‍♀️ Bradford Council meets on 14th October. Questions about Bingley Pool are going to be raised.

🏊🏽‍♀️ Ahead of this meeting, give council leadership clear direction by emailing them using our easy template:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VXzUJ49UPRUDOdnNnRro5dSVcLWTKemZ4ph2tvxol7o/edit?tab=t.0

🌊 You can find out more about our campaign here:

https://savebingleypool.wordpress.com/2026/10/02/15m-is-on-the-table-heres-how-you-can-help-us-get-it/

06/10/2026

🏊‍♀️ Anna Dixon MP has confirmed with government ministers that £15m of unspent Levelling Up Funding can be redistributed by Bradford Council. This money is 'use it or lose it' and must be spent by 2028. Bingley Pool was the subject of a comprehensive Bradford Council LUF bid in 2022. All parties have stated that they want to reopen Bingley Pool.

🌊 Email Bradford Council leadership now and make the case for these funds to come to Bingley. Here's our easy to use template:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VXzUJ49UPRUDOdnNnRro5dSVcLWTKemZ4ph2tvxol7o/edit?tab=t.0

It is clear that funding for Bingley Pool is no longer a question of what Bradford Council can afford; it is a question of what the Council chooses to do with money it already has.

This is a project that has already had a successful Levelling Up bid and is not only eligible but has existing completed scoping works.

I am continuing to urge the Council, in the strongest possible terms, to commit funding to the long-overdue redevelopment of Bingley Pool.

03/10/2026

🏊‍♀️ £15m is on the table - here's how you can help us get it for Bingley Pool.

Write to Bradford Council leadership today using our easy template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VXzUJ49UPRUDOdnNnRro5dSVcLWTKemZ4ph2tvxol7o/edit?tab=t.0

🏊🏽‍♀️ If you want to find out more, you can visit our website for the details on this campaign.

https://savebingleypool.wordpress.com/2026/10/02/15m-is-on-the-table-heres-how-you-can-help-us-get-it/

Anna Dixon MP confirms that Bradford Council can redistribute £15m of unallocated government grant New surveys into Bingley Pool commissioned by Bradford Council Email your councillor today using o…

28/08/2026

We emailed Anna Dixon earlier this month to ask for her support in seeking funding for Bingley Pool. We're very happy with this response, just as we're happy with the current Council leadership's decision to pause the disposal of Bingley Pool. Next step for us all: cancel that disposal status altogether and get this funding into the project. This is a win-win for everyone involved, and a project that is backed by all parties and the community at large.

𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐰.

Bradford Council just freed up in the region of £14.6 million after cancelling the Squire Lane scheme. I've told the Council, in no uncertain terms, that this money should be going towards a new pool for Bingley.

The redevelopment of Bingley Pool has overwhelming local support, would bring clear public health benefits and help to fill the well-documented shortfall in swimming provision in our area.

Full letter below. 🏊👇

21/08/2026

VOLUNTEER CALLOUT

We've got the attention of Bradford Council, and now we need to press home our case. Any time you can give would be much appreciated. We're looking for volunteers with the following skills and experience:

🏊Project Management
🏊🏻‍♂️Business Planning
🏊🏼‍♂️Social media and communications
🏊🏿‍♀️Charity governance

If you're interested, drop us a message or email at [email protected]. You can find out more about our campaign on our website:

https://savebingleypool.wordpress.com/2026/08/07/campaign-update-august-2026/

17/08/2026

Last week we spoke to BBC Look North about primary school swimming statistics in our district, and yesterday the writeup was posted. Unlike the TV piece, the article makes very clear that Bingley Life Saving Club have to meet at Ilkley because of the closure of Bingley Pool.

Bradford is in desperate need of more swimming space, with pool provision only meeting 41% of recommended water space per person. A re-opened Bingley Pool, accessible to schools in the very centre of town, would be a key piece in solving that puzzle.

Parents in Bradford call for better swimming provision after research highlights a skills gap.

13/08/2026

Interested in our campaign? Read our latest Campaign Update to find out what's going on at Bingley Pool. Featuring:

🏊Motion passes at Bradford Council backing the strategic case for Bingley Pool
🏊🏻‍♀️Motion also requires new surveys and formation of a Project Board with community membership
🏊🏿‍♂️Disposal of Bingley Pool paused – no sale in 2026
🏊🏽‍♂️Squire Lane leisure centre cancelled – what does this mean for Bingley Pool?

https://savebingleypool.wordpress.com/2026/08/07/campaign-update-august-2026/

11/08/2026

Check us out on BBC Look North tonight, 6.30pm. We were asked to comment on the BBC's report, released today, on lowering rates of swimming proficiency in primary schools.