A PLEA has been made to West Devon Borough Council to retain Okehampton Swimming Pool until funding for the new leisure centre is secured and building work begins.

The £3-million centre, which includes a swimming pool and sports hall, fitness suite and aerobics studio, was given full planning permission by the borough council this week.

Councillors granted approval to demolish the old pool last month, but Okehampton ward member Cllr Joan Pauley said there was some concern in the town over when demolition would take place.

Although a lottery grant for the new facility has been agreed in principle, it still has to go through stage two of the funding bid process and could fall at the final hurdle.

It is proposed to build the leisure centre in Simmons Park between the Octagon Theatre and the cricket pitch.

Cllr Pauley told planners this week that there was a strong feeling in the town that the swimming pool should remain in place while questions still hung over the new build.

'Everything moves so slowly in this town and if the swimming pool is demolished before we have full approval of the bid and work begins it will be a disaster for the many people who use the pool on a regular basis,' she said.

'I would like some reassurance that this will not happen,' she told planning officers.

Cllr Dick Eberlie said he was aware of the concerns and it was important people fully realised that Okehampton might not get this money, although everybody remained optimistic.

Cllr Roger Mathew said the issue on the table at the meeting was whether or not to

approve the planning application for the new leisure centre — and not when the existing pool would be demolished.

But head of planning and development Stephen Gill said he had noted the concerns which had been raised.

l A proposal for the construction of four tennis courts was also approved this week.

The courts will replace the ones that will be lost when the new leisure centre development takes place.

The new tennis court site will be located between the car park and the current all-weather sports pitch area at the eastern end of Leat Road.