Plans changed after calls for bigger swimming pool
Clare Worden/BBCAn eight-lane swimming pool could now feature in plans to relocate and redevelop a town's leisure facilities.
The existing six-lane pool at St James in King's Lynn is becoming too expensive to maintain and heat, so the plan is to build a new one as part of a refurbishment of the town's Lynnsport recreation centre.
It was also going to have six lanes, but feedback from swimmers and leisure centre users has led King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council to rethink its plan.
A revised proposal will now be considered by the council's cabinet.
West Norfolk Swimming Club, which has 188 competitive swimmers, is the biggest user of St James pool, operated by Alive Leisure – a council-owned not-for-profit organisation.
It had asked the council to consider an eight-lane pool at Lynnsport.
Club chair Simon Rose said: "As a club, we are excited about the amazing opportunities that a modern aquatics facility would create.
"From nurturing talent through enhanced training spaces and enabling competitive events, to encouraging more people of all ages to join our club, this development would bring lasting benefits for our members and for the wider community."
The new pool and an adapted sports hub for people with disabilities could be completed by 2028 if approval is given.
Rather than refit Lynnsport to accommodate a pool, the new plan is to build on land adjacent to it.
It means less disruption for people people playing indoor bowls and in classrooms used by the College of West Anglia.
Simon Ring, deputy leader of the council, denied that plans for Lynnsport were being scaled back.
He said they were listening to those who had taken part in a consultation.
"We will be retaining bowls with a reinvigorated bowls club, gymnastics will retain their space," said Mr Ring.
"And we will be bringing padel tennis, three covered courts, if the LTA supports us."
The council's cabinet will consider the new plans at a meeting in March.
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