North Herefordshire pool set for July 2005 opening

The tender process for the building of a new pool for North Herefordshire will start in January 2004 after Cabinet agreed on Thursday (November 27) to a timetable of works which aims to see a new pool open in the summer of 2005.

Herefordshire Council has agreed to fund a multi-million pound facility, adjoining the existing Leominster leisure centre, with local community groups chipping in £250,000.

Cllr Roy Stockton, Cabinet Member (Community and Social Development), said: “We are pleased that the plans are now progressing for what will be a first-class facility to benefit the people of north Herefordshire.

“I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank the community groups for their hard work raising funds for the project.

“We’re delighted the community has got behind us on this and congratulate them for the money they’ve raised so far.”

The estimated timetable is:

· January 12, 2004, out to tender
· February 9, 2004 – return of tenders
· Early March 2004 – award of contract
· Work expected to start on site March/April
· Estimated completion is July 2005.

Detailed plans for the new pool will go on display from Monday, December 1, at the Leominster INFO shop, Corn Square, where they will remain until the end of December.

Cabinet also endorsed the position that Herefordshire Council could provide for only one new pool for northern Herefordshire in the “foreseeable future”.

With a replacement pool in Leominster it has been estimated that 90.3% of the demand for swimming in the county could be met, putting Herefordshire in the top 25% of counties in the Country in terms of pool provision.

Cllr Stockton added: “Clearly, building a separate pool for Bromyard would not represent the best use of Council resources and we should instead focus our efforts on building a first class facility in Leominster.

“It would serve as largest single contribution that the Council could make to fulfilling unmet demand.”

The defunct Sydonia pool has now been demolished and the site levelled and returned to open space.