City fund for swimming pool given £1m boost

Senior councillors on York Council's executive are expected to approve proposals on Tuesday next week to provide the additional cash for the competition-standard pool as part of York University's 500m expansion.

The money will top up an existing 2m grant which the council has already set aside for the development, and it is hoped that the extra finance will ensure the scheme is realised.

While an exact timetable for when the pool will be built has yet to be finalised, the 3m grant is expected to ensure work starts on site during 2011.

The additional cash is due to be provided by the council through borrowing, with the financial burden shouldered in the next financial year's budget.

Active York, the group responsible for promoting sport and healthy living, has admitted that there are currently no swimming facilities in the city that "meet modern competitive requirements or dedicated training facilities".

A strategy which was drawn up three years ago has already delivered significant improvements, including a revamp of Yearsley Pool that was completed in 2008.

The Energise leisure centre which opened in Acomb in December has also helped counter the shortfall in swimming provision in York.

However, the council's partnership with York University to deliver the competition-standard swimming pool as part of a "sports village" development is seen as fundamental to addressing increasing demand.

The university has allocated 5m in its capital plans to help finance the project, which architects estimate will cost about 11m, and investigations are under way to secure funding from other sources.

Council officers have urged members to continue to work with the university, but also look at a longer-term vision to create a city centre pool after 2015.