The swimming academy at Riverside Nursery in Blackburn had its officiallaunch last week (20 June) at an open day.
The academy has been built on land adjacent to the nursery with achlorine-free indoor swimming pool and a swimwear shop, cafe, children'shairdressers and new office space.
The pool will not be open to the general public. It will be used by thenursery children, and parents will also be able to book a range ofswimming classes with qualified swimming instructors, including motherand baby classes. Siblings who do not attend the nursery will also beable to sign up for lessons.
Michael Anderson, with co-director Mark Holden, opened Riverside Nurseryin October 2007. It is registered to take 75 children.
Mr Anderson, who also runs a plastering and drylining business with MrHolden, said he had the idea to build the pool because the nursery hadavailable land and there were no swimming facilities in the area.
'The leisure centre closed down about a year and a half ago,' he said.'There's been massive interest in the swimming academy. We're hoping foraround 300 children and families to use the pool each week.'
Yorkshire Bank is also providing the finance for a second nursery andpool, on a 1.2 acre plot at the new housing estate of Buckshaw Villagein Chorley.
Mr Anderson said, 'We have done our homework and researched the wholedevelopment, where there will be more than 500 houses and up to 10,000residents and lots of facilities - except for a nursery or a swimmingpool.'
