THE future of swimming in Bridgwater is a step closer this week after a contract was signed to build the town's new £multi-million pool facility.

Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset County Council have signed a contract with BAM PPP to build the new pool at the Trinity Sports and Leisure Centre, which opens in November.

Plans include a 25-metre six-lane pool, a training pool, changing rooms, spectator seating, an increased leisure facility, a cafe, car parking and landscaping.

Around £6.3million will be invested by the district council into the project and both authorities hope the new facility will be open by Spring 2013.

The announcement was made in the same week Tesco publically exhibited their proposals for its Bridgwater store (see front).

Teresa Harvey, group manager for community development and wellbeing at Sedgemoor District Council, said: “The signing of the contract is a major milestone in the development of a new pool for the Bridgwater area and guarantees a local swimming provision for residents and visitors alike as part of the new Trinity Sports and Leisure Centre.”

Bridgwater has been without a swimming pool since the former Sedgemoor Splash centre was closed in 2009.

District and town councillor Ian Tucker said he would have preferred the swimming pool to be nearer the town centre.

He said: “It would have been better on the Northgate site but a swimming pool is better than no swimming pool.

“We have to go down the road of making the best of it, and trying to get the best for the town.”

Cllr David Huxtable, a cabinet member for Somerset County council, said the announcement is a “major milestone for the town”.

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