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Search forLib Dems pull the plug on Moor Lane Olympic swimming pool plan
Tuesday, December 02, 2008, 07:30
The idea has been criticised as a mistake by athletes and swimming coaches who say the council should be doing more to nurture local talent ahead of the 2012 Olympics.
The 50m pool, costing £17m, was going to be built next to Moorways Leisure Centre, in Moor Lane.
But now the Liberal Democrats, who took over control of the council in May, have revealed they do not think there is a need for an Olympic-sized pool in the city.
Councillor Joe Naitta, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: "We will not be pursuing the idea of an Olympic-sized pool but we will look at a fun pool facility.
"There are Olympic-sized pools nearby in Loughborough and Sheffield so I don't think there is the need for one in Derby.
"From my point of view, I'm in favour of a fun pool because a lot of people use them and it could bring people into the city for a day because they would make a day of their visit."
But Mark Rose, head coach at Derby's elite Derventio eXcel swimming club, said there was a need for a 50m pool in the city.
"It is virtually impossible to get into a 50m pool anywhere in Britain because there are so few of them and the prices are exorbitant – you are talking £36 an hour for one lane," he said.
"Having one in the city would have made a huge difference and I think it's a missed opportunity for the whole community."
The plans for the pool, with a connecting corridor to a refurbished leisure centre, were first unveiled last year by the cabinet member then in charge, Labour's Alan Graves.
For the £17m build to go ahead the council was looking to sell the land currently occupied by Moorways Athletic club for housing to generate cash to invest in the pool.
The club would then be relocated to another site – originally at the University of Derby in Kedleston Road but that was changed in favour of land at Mackworth College.
Mr Naitta said work did need doing to improve the Moorways centre and that a feasibility study was started a month ago to look at whether the site would be suited to a fun pool, and also if the athletic club should still be relocated.
Olympic swimmer Ross Davenport, who trains at Loughborough, said the decision to ditch the plans for a 50m swimming pool was a "missed opportunity" and the council should try to accommodate both a 50m pool and a fun pool in the city.
"An Olympic-sized pool in Derby would have been fantastic for local talent and keeping elite swimmers in Derby as well as attracting swimmers from around the country," he said.
"Sheffield and Loughborough are quite a distance away and it can be difficult to get pool time in them because they are extremely busy."
Mr Graves said he was extremely disappointed with the decision.
He said: "I think Derby deserves an Olympic-sized swimming pool. I think it is important for the people of Derby."
Harvey Jennings, deputy leader of the Conservative group on the city council, said: "I think it is a shame these plans are being dropped."
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