Progress Made With Swimming Pool Plan

August 21, 2007, 9:16 am

Plans for a new swimming pool at an Exeter leisure centre have taken a major step forward.

Engineering experts are expected to confirm that land adjoining Clifton Hill Sports Centre would make a suitable location for the multi-million-pound pool.

But leisure chiefs are remaining tight-lipped ab- out whether the new facility is likely to be an Olympic-sized 50m or a 25m pool.

Exeter city councillors will be told the results of a feasibility study on the site at a briefing to be held on Thursday, August 30.

A final decision on the proposals is then likely to be made by a council committee later this year.

The pool, which would replace the Pyramids swimming pool in Heavitree Road, would provide a much-needed boost to leisure facilities in the city.

But David Jenkins, chairman of Exeter City Swimming Club, which has written to the council about the plans, said he was not optimistic that a 50m facility would be given the go-ahead.

He said: “I think we are realistic enough not to expect a 50m pool. I believe the site is too small and I think the council is concerned that a 50m pool would not pay its way and might be a burden on taxpayers.”

Mr Jenkins said the next best option would be for an eight-lane, 25m pool. Both the Pyramids and Exeter’s Riverside Leisure Centre pool currently have only six lanes.

He said: “This would be much better than what we have now, as there are still lots of competitions that take place across eight lanes.

“Another feature that could be considered is moveable floors which would allow the depth to be varied for different users of the pool.

“But we would be delighted with a new facility. It would be an excellent facility for Exeter, as well as a good investment.”

However, Ian Cowe, the council’s leisure manager, refused to be drawn on the results of the study and on which size pool was more likely to be built.

He said: “The idea was to look at whether a new pool could be joined onto the leisure centre to provide wet and dry facilities.”

This article was taken from: This Is Exeter