THE multi-million pound scheme to provide Okehampton with a superb new swimming pool and sports centre took a step forward this week —West Devon's planning committee agreed the present ageing pool and pavilion in Simmons Park should be demolished.
Jane Green, planning services manager, told Tuesday's meeting that responses to the demolition of the pool and pavilion were the same.
She said: 'The town council supports both, subject to a grant from Sport England being successful.
'For both applications, County Highways, the Environment Agency and South West Water have no objections.'
The new sports complex will cost around £3.4-million to build and will include a swimming pool, sports hall to cater for a variety of sports, a fitness suite and aerobics room.
A £2.6-million bid for National Lottery funding for the project has been agreed in principle by Sport England.
David Inman, borough deputy chief executive, said the council was now in the process of going out to tender for the work.
'It's something we have to do to prove to the Lottery Board that the figures we've given them accord with the market,' said Mr Inman.
'We also have to finish off the submission that hopefully will allow the board to consider the situation in September.'
Mr Inman said a planning application for the new complex would go before the committee next month.
The council has now been working on the project for some 18 months.
Mr Inman said: 'It is a long time, but when you are asking for a £3.4-million scheme, it's a lot of money.'
He said the council was 'very confident' that the Lottery application would receive full approval, once the final submission has been examined in September.
Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of Okehampton, said: 'I'm very pleased we're taking another step forward — I'd be even more pleased if we had confirmation that we had successfully gone through phase two of the lottery bid.'
Cllr Marsh said the town council was intending to build a new children's play area in Simmons Park, assisted by a £50,000 grant from Okehampton Ecumenical Trust. It also wants to re-lay the putting green.
But work cannot go ahead until the council has definite confirmation that the lottery bid will come through.
'The children's play area will definitely be built anyway, but it's all part of the bigger plan.
'I really hope the bid doesn't fail. These facilities are desperately needed,' said Cllr Marsh.
The application to demolish the pool and pavilion will be sent to the Secretary of State to be formally determined, providing there are no objections by the end of the statutory publicity period which finishes today (Thursday).
Government determination is a legal requirement, as the borough council itself is the applicant.
The report to the committee stated that consent for demolition was required as the pool and pavilion were within a conservation area.
Officers said the pavilion had a neutral effect in that it neither contributed nor detracted from the character of Simmons Park.
'The removal of this building would facilitate a comprehensive landscaping scheme as part of the leisure complex proposal, the result of which should be an enhancement of the area,' the report stated.
The present swimming pool site would be returned to grassland, which would 'enhance the parkland character of the area'.