Witham: 'We want the best' (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Witham: 'We want the best'

1:23pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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Millions of pounds will be splashed on new leisure facilities in a mid Essex town.

Witham is in line for a new swimming pool and local councillors are asking for a multimillion pound overhaul, including two pools, spectator seating, a gymnasium, squash courts and a diving pool.

Members of Witham Local Committee, a Braintree Council committee, met last night and discussed two options for future leisure provision in the town.

Bramston Sports Centre in Bridge Street, Witham, was opened in 1974 and despite £250,000 being spent on essential maintenance work at the end of last year, the authority is keen to act and replace, at least, the aging pool.

The two options are for either a new £4.45million pool measuring 25m x 13m with six lanes, a ten metre learner pool and a much larger spectator area catering for 100 people.

There could also be a gymnasium and squash facilities costing £1.4m and a diving pool with a price tag of £1.02m.

The second standard option costing £3.61m is for the pools and seating without all the extras.

Inviting feedback from the local committee Graham Butland, Braintree Council leader, said all options would be looked at but ultimately, the taxpayer would foot the bill.

"It's quite clear that residents expect, that at an absolute minimum, the facilities currently there and available to the general public are replaced," said Lucy Barlow (Lab, Witham West).

"I'm not even considering the standard option."

Miss Barlow's views were echoed by other members and the only disagreement came over the amount of cash which should be spent on environmental assessment of the new build.

The committee's preferred option was for the enhanced facilities with a good level of Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method used for the scheme.

Braintree Council's cabinet will consider the recommendation on Monday.

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