Yorkshire Bank Helps Swim School Make A Splash With Its £2.2m Plans

1/6/09

A BRAND new swimming academy will open its doors in Blackburn as part of two projects worth £2.2 million being backed by Yorkshire Bank.

Local businessman Michael Anderson will officially launch the state-of-the art swimming pool at Riverside Nursery on Branch Road, Lower Darwen, on Saturday, June 20.

Michael, joint owner of plastering and drylining business Red Rose Drylining, has also unveiled plans for another nursery and second swim school at Buckshaw Village, near Chorley.

Yorkshire Bank’s Financial Solutions Centre in Blackburn has helped finance the two projects, which total £2.2 million and will both be open to the public.

Michael  said: “We had available land next to the nursery and there are no swimming amenities in the area so we decided that we would open a swimming pool and academy. There has been massive interest in the swimming academy. We’ve already signed up 80 members and we’re not even open yet!

“With Yorkshire Bank’s help we have acquired another 1.2 acre plot at Buckshaw Village to open a second swimming school and nursery. We have done our homework and researched the whole development, where there will be more than 500 houses and up to 10,000 residents and lots of facilities except for a nursery or swimming pool.”

Work on Riverside Nursery’s swimming academy in Blackburn started in December 2008 and has just completed. As well as a chlorine-free swimming pool, the academy will also offer a swimwear shop, a café, children’s hairdressers and new office space, as well as running a range of classes.

Paul Ratcliffe, a business partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Blackburn FSC, added: “Like most entrepreneurs, Michael Anderson has the proven ability of identifying business opportunities and turning them into successful enterprises.

“He has been with Yorkshire Bank for 25 years and we are well aware of his drive, ambition and business acumen. We were more than happy to support these two latest projects, which are not only a great addition to his business portfolio but will also provide employment and much needed facilities that will benefit the whole community.”

Outline planning permission has been granted for the Buckshaw Village nursery and swimming academy and work on the scheme is scheduled to start this September.

An open day is being held at Riverside Nursery on Saturday, June 20, from 10am until 4pm, to showcase the new swimming academy to parents and the public. During the day there will be a BBQ, refreshments, a bouncy castle and a raffle.