Plans to create a new £3.25m swimming pool in Hadleigh are still being championed by Babergh District Council after its meeting with town councillors.
The meeting between the councillors and Babergh’s Political Leaders’ Group was held on June 15 in a bid by Babergh to persuade the town council to give more financial support to the new, six-lane, 25m facility.
Possible sources of funding for the pool include the sale of land and buildings owned by Babergh and Hadleigh Town Council. Babergh has agreed to sell East House and land adjoining Brett Works in Hadleigh – and wanted the town council, which also owns land near Brett Works, to do the same.
Both sides agreed that they were committed to providing facilities in Hadleigh but the town council repeated that it was not open to negotiations for the sale of its allotment land at the moment.
The town council, however, re-emphasised that it had set up a fund to help contribute an annual amount towards a new pool.
A report, due before Babergh’s Strategy Committee on June 29, recommends that even though the town council has not committed to the extent Babergh would have liked, the need to press ahead and trigger a feasibility study/ business plan is still an important one.
Councillor Nick Ridley, Chairman of Babergh’s Strategy Committee, said: “Both Babergh and Hadleigh Town Council want to keep swimming facilities in the town and agreed to work in the interests of Hadleigh residents and users of the pool.
“The meeting held led to a useful exchange of views and also helped Babergh and Hadleigh Town Council understand each other’s position.
“Babergh will continue to work with Hadleigh Town Council and try to persuade them to open negotiations as soon as possible. We need their help and without their financial support the project will not go ahead.”
And a spokesperson from Hadleigh Town Council added: “The town council has set up a swimming pool reserve fund. This is a fund specifically to accumulate, as necessary, a reserve as a regular annual contribution towards the cost of a new pool in Hadleigh.
“We have reaffirmed our intention not to enter into any negotiation, at the moment, regarding the sale of the town council’s allotment land.”
The report recommends the feasibility study/ business plan, costing £30,000, is needed to look in more detail at the costs that would be incurred in building and operating a new pool in Hadleigh.
Councillors will be asked to agree a timetable of different stages that need to be progressed through before the outcome of the study is considered in March 2007. ENDS
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