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Saturday, October 11, 2008, 07:00
Tory leaders are looking at entering a partnership with University College Plymouth St Mark and St John, so the general public can use its pool.
Finance supremo Cllr Ian Bowyer said the idea was among 'a range of options' being explored.
The college has submitted plans for a huge overhaul of the sports centre at its Derriford site.
However, although the existing 25-metre, four-lane pool will be refurbished, it won't be enlarged – and is already open to the public.
This has prompted swimming pool campaigners to criticise the idea, and the council has been accused of 'short-changing' residents in the north of the city.
Cllr Bowyer, Cabinet member for budget and asset management, confirmed the Marjon tie-up was 'on the agenda we are actively looking at' but stressed: "No deal has been done at present."
"We are keen to bring forward some swimming provision for the north of the city," he said.
"Marjon is in the right spot and they have a pool there; it's a front-runner.
"If we were to focus on Marjon we would like to think we can do some sort of collaborative partnership with them that would allow public access," Cllr Bowyer went on.
He said partnerships produced 'better outcomes, better service, and usually provide better value for money'.
Public usage of the current pool was limited at the moment, he said, and any link-up would be 'more ambitious'.
However, he warned that any plans would be tempered by the 'credit crunch' and the council will have to be 'careful about how we go forward'.
Cllr Brian Roberts, Tory member for Southway, said there might be additional public access if the Marjon partnership progressed and added: "At the moment the public can use Marjon, but this is another deal we are working on."
Seaton Pool, used by 100,000 people annually, closed in April 2006 after the then-Labour administration heard it was costing the council, which rented the site, £160,000 a year. The building was demolished.
It left the city with two indoor pools, at Central Park and Plympton; and two summer-only outdoor facilities: Mount Wise and Tinside, plus the Pavilions fun pool.
In April 2007 the Tories wrote to campaigners saying they were committed to securing a pool in north Plymouth, and that they would identify a site within three months of gaining power.
However, Labour's Cllr Peter Smith, shadow Cabinet member for healthy communities and leisure, said: "I don't believe the people in the north of the city will approve of using Marjon.
"They will feel short-changed", he said. "What's being offered is already available.
"Where's the new pool for the north of the city?"
Lee Finn, a member of the Save Seaton Pool Campaign and the Friends of Central Park, said he was worried students would be given preferential treatment at the pool.
"It will put the public at a disadvantage", he said.
Marjons is proposing to knock down more than half its 5,366sq m sports centre, which it says is 'obsolete', and rebuild it.
It will, however, keep the gym and eight-court sports hall, and 'upgrade' the swimming pool and changing rooms.
The new centre, if approved, will be 887sq m bigger and contain a new 12-court sports hall, a 90-station fitness suite, a gym/dance studio, a 12-bed sports injury clinic, outdoor adventure facilities and offices.
Marjon's sport centre proposal said: "The new sports centre will continue to serve the general public, as well as the college."
Public consultation on the plans ended on October 7.
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