PROPOSALS to utilise the site of the old swimming pool in Simmons Park to create a toddlers' paddling pool were last week abandoned by town councillors who decided the project would cost too much.

The existing swimming pool is due to be demolished and the site filled in by West Devon Borough Council on completion of the new multi-million pound Parklands Sports Centre later this year.

But councillors at the parks committee meeting last week balked at early estimated costings for the conversion scheme and will now explore other ways of providing a pool for families in the town.

Cllr Frances Luxton said the estimated costs were just too high for the council to be able to justify the expenditure. 'I don't feel it is a sound use of our resources,' she said.

Councillors were discussing provisional estimated costings for the scheme provided by Cornish firm Apex Pool Engineers. These reflected a previous estimate from a civil engineer that conversion to the requisite standards would be around £100,000.

Cllr Luxton said: 'The whole thing is far too costly for what it is going to achieve. There are lots of other things we could do with the money for the benefit of the town.

'I think it is a waste of money.'

Cllr Mark Slater also felt the costs indicated so far of creating a paddling pool were too expensive, but he said there may be other ways of securing a facility for the town.

He said: 'I think it is achievable, but we are going to have to push hard for it.

'It is important we remember we are talking about restoring an amenity for the town; this project has been on the table for a long time.

'If we can do it we should, but we must not go down a track that is going to cost a lot of money we cannot afford.'

The town council had been in discussions with West Devon Council to see if the cost of the scheme could be reduced by plant from the existing pool being retained as part of the new paddling pool.

Cllr Charles Letchford proposed the town council contact the borough council and ask it to fill in the swimming pool site upon completion. The town council could then look at alternative sites in Simmons Park for a small paddling pool.

This was supported and a letter has been written to the borough council asking that the area be filled in as originally planned.

Mr Letchford added that he was still keen to see a paddling pool for families in the town re-instated. 'One thing I can say is that everywhere we have been to look at other paddling pools, we have been told how popular they are with both children and adults,' he said.