Flats to pay for new pool?

The building of yet more seafront flats, particularly on this prestige site, could prove a controversial decision by the borough council's Conservative group should it take control of the borough council from the Lib Dems in next Thursday's local elections.

Tory group leader Keith Mercer told the Herald this week that a good site for the new pool would be the leisure centre site in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Selling off the Aquarena site would provide most of the new-pool funding, he said, but the Aquarena would not be closed until the new pool was open for business.

The paddling pool would, however, be kept open and might be used as a skating rink during the winter. It could also be used as a concert venue, said Mr Mercer.

But there seems little hope of a new pool being the 50-metre length desired by local swimming enthusiasts.

The present pool is 30 metres long and it is likely that the new pool would be only 25 metres long.

Mr Mercer said: "We believe finances just don't stack up for a 50-metre pool. Sport England have said they would not give any money towards a 50-metre pool in an area like Worthing because there is not the potential to provide a 'centre of excellence' for swimming.

"We are bedevilled in Worthing by having a 180-degree catchment area, because of the sea. We propose a 25-metre pool that is leisure-based with water activities and it would have eight lanes '“ giving it more water area than the present pool, giving ample opportunity for people to swim."

Mr Mercer said his group had several sites in mind, but the Shaftesbury Avenue site had excellent facilities and good transport facilities, making the site accessible from all parts of Worthing.

Asked what he thought the Aquarena site would fetch on the open market, Mr Mercer said he would not give a figure. But, based on the number of flats that could be accommodated there, it was a "staggering sum".

There was also the possibility that some leisure facility could also be accommodated on that site.

Mr Mercer said the height of any flats could be limited to eight or nine storeys, similar to development nearby.

On hearing of the Tories' plans yesterday, the council's Lib Dem leader, Sheila Player, told the Herald all the residents near both sites should be consulted when full details were known.

She did not believe, however, that proceeds from the sale of the Aquarena site would be anywhere near the sum needed to build a new pool.

It would certainly not realise as much as selling the yacht club land at Goring, which the Lib Dems wanted to do, but which the Tories had called in.

Stan Dudley, of the Save Worthing Aquarena Now group, said a 50-metre pool would enable swimmers to make real progress in their swimming ambitions, and it would attract national and international events to the town.

"Crawley is building a 50-metre pool at this moment, and if Worthing had a similar one it would provide people in this area with a real choice," said Mr Dudley.