Shrewsbury leisure centre move 'is still an option'

Councillor Keith Barrow said that a change of location for the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre is still being considered, and may be funded by Sport England.

The news comes amid widespread calls for the swimming pool to stay put.

Councillor Barrow said relocation was just one of the options up for discussion.

The council was presented with a petition of thousands of signatures, after it was feared the site could be sold off to make way for a five star hotel.

There have been assurances, however, that this is not the case.

Maintenance has recently been carried out at the building which has stood there for decades, and funding is still being sought for the pool's long-term future.

Councillor Barrow said: "We are still looking at options, and one of those would be to move the location of the pool, potentially with fundraising from Sports England.

"We are still looking at the figures, though, which we will also need to consider should we go down the route of a refurbishment."

Save Our Pool campaign chairman, Bernard Wills, is adamant that a move would not be for the best.

Mr Wills, who is also chairman of Shrewsbury Masters Swimming Club, said: "I do not think this comes as any surprise and ultimately the pool could change location in the future.

"We are in constant dialogue with the council and they have promised us that we will remain informed.

"The best thing would be for the pool to be refurbished and it really doesn't need that much doing to it so it's far more economically viable then a change of location."

It is believed possible sites for a new centre could include Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne or Battlefield.

Hundreds of people filled in a survey put together by Councillor Hannah Fraser, and 77 per cent said the pool should stay put in the town centre.

Reasons centred mainly on convenience, as many pool users walk or cycle to the leisure centre.

The leisure centre is used by thousands of people every year, including dozens of swimming clubs and Shrewsbury Sub-Aqua Club, which has hundreds of members.

Should the pool move, the cost of building a new complex would run into millions of pounds, and there is concern members will not be able to use it should it be built outside of Shrewsbury.