Worthing's olympic pool bid

Councillors have decided they want to replace the ageing Aquarena with a new 50-metre pool.

Their wish list for the new complex includes diving boards, a hydrotherapy pool and solar heating to prevent wasting energy.

They dismissed plans for a 25 metre pool, even though they were told the likelihood of a 50 metre pool attracting Olympic competition was "remote".

John Thorpe, the council's assistant director for leisure and cultural services, said: "There are very few 50 metre pools around.

"I don't think there is a requirement for a 50 metre pool.

"If it is about providing for the local people and community then the 25 metre pool and other add on facilities would attract people."

But Lib Dem Geraldine Lissenburg said she was "disappointed" the town wasn't trying to get its own Olympic sized pool.

Fellow Liberal Democrat Christine Allen agreed. Speaking at the meeting on Monday night, she said: "Swimming benefits everyone of all ages, from babies through to the elderly.

"It would be a tragedy to have less facilities than we have at the moment.

"What I don't want to see is us building a pool which has less facilities than we have now."

The nearest 50 metre pool to Worthing is in Portsmouth, more than 30 miles away.

Tory Major Tom Wye said: "If the nearest Olympic-sized pool is Portsmouth and the same distance again to the east, that indicates to me that there is a demand for a vast facility in Worthing. Let's go the whole hog. Let's go for 50 metres."

Leader of the council, Lib Dem Sheila Player added: "We want to get the absolute maximum that this council can afford for its residents. We want a pool that will do us proud."