New Shrewsbury swimming pool building in Quarry could house town council too
A brand new building in Shrewsbury's Quarry could house both a new swimming pool and a base for the town's council, under new plans.
Talks have started about the possibility of a shared building, incorporating a new pool for the town and better office facilities for the council.
The town council owns the Quarry park and Shropshire Council owns the current Quarry Pool.
The new building could be funded and managed jointly between the two organisations.
Members of the town council's finance & general purpose committee agreed unanimously that further discussion should take place with Shropshire Council.
Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, sought the approval of members to continue discussions with his Shropshire Council counterpart Peter Nutting about the possible retention of the swimming pool within the Quarry.
The town council had repeatedly objected to alternative proposals to move the pool to the Sports Village at Sundorne.
But Councillor Nutting has voiced his personal desire to see the pool retained within the town and to work with the town council to develop the facility.
Councillor Mosley, said: “We are delighted that Shropshire Council seems to have had a change of heart on the siting of a redeveloped baths and fitness complex.
"We have invested heavily in the Quarry and the area is seen as the leisure quarter for the town centre. Building a new pool would go further to improving that offer enormously.
"Working in partnership with Shropshire Council and in close liaison with all interested parties, we believe that there is the opportunity of creating a wonderful facility at the heart of the town, accessible to all and fully integrated into the host of activities taking place in the Quarry for visitors and residents alike.
"We already have money set aside for a future permanent base for our HQ and town based staff, council chamber and community resources so that these would be incorporated into any new scheme.
"We are excited by the potential and look forward to further deliberations about design and the management of such a vital asset for the town, stakeholders, visitors and general public.”
Shropshire Council's cabinet will be updated on the pool next month.
Councillor Lezley Picton, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: "We have already stated that our preferred approach is to keep the pool on the existing Quarry site and ideally this would be a new build development, although further work is being undertaken on this before we can confirm this.
"Shropshire Council did meet with Shrewsbury Town Council before Christmas to discuss a range of topics including the new swimming facilities for Shrewsbury.”
