Doubts over plans to build new swimming pools

Plans to build two new swimming pools in the Black Country worth almost £22 million could be scrapped due to budget pressures, the Express & Star can reveal today.

Sandwell Council wants to build a £13 million pool in West Bromwich and planning permission has already been granted to build a new £8.8m facility in Tipton.

However, council leader councillor Darren Cooper warned both projects face being put on ice or scrapped altogether as the authority battles to find savings of £27m in the next financial year.

Councillor Cooper said he was carrying out a review of all of the borough's capital projects — which includes the two new pools — as the authority must find the £27m savings in the 2011/12 financial year.

He said: "I wouldn't like to say the pools are not going to happen, but I'm reviewing how much resources we are going to have at our disposal.

"Tipton has got planning permission, we will continue to pursue planning permission for both of the pools in the short term, but at the end of the day I am having to review things and we will be able to make a confirmation on what we may be able to continue to do over the next two to three weeks."

Providing the scheme continues, work on the Tipton pool, which will be located at the junction of Alexandra Road and Thursfield Road, will begin in October.

The site, a former 1950s housing estate, will be transformed to include a 25 metre six-lane pool, teaching pool, changing areas and a gym with 50 fitness stations.

The existing Tipton Swimming Centre on Queens Road, will be knocked down once the new centre is open.

Meanwhile, a site is yet to be confirmed for the new £13m West Bromwich pool.

It had originally been planned to build the new leisure centre on the site of the Jesson playing fields in Greets Green.

However, the plans were met with opposition from nearby residents. The site of the former Gala Baths is the preferred option and the site of the multi-storey Queens Square car park is also being looked at.