New pool to be part of leisure facilities shake-up

Jennifer Patterson and her son Alex are members of West Norfolk Swimming Club

A new swimming pool alongside the wider refurbishment of a sports centre is being proposed in a move that would shake up the leisure facilities in a Norfolk town.

The current pool at St James in King's Lynn is becoming too expensive to maintain and heat, so the plan is to build a new pool as part of a refurbishment of Lynnsport in the north of the town.

If the £45m plan is approved by councillors, the work is expected to be completed by 2028.

West Norfolk Swimming Club welcomed the news that the current pool would be replaced, but said the decision to go for a six-lane facility was a "missed opportunity".

Simon Ring said keeping the pool where it is would be unaffordable

Simon Ring, deputy leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, said developers were already on board.

He said the plan was to build a six-lane 25m pool alongside a four-lane 20m training pool at Lynnsport.

"I'm hoping that the ask to the council for the funding will be in January," he said.

"As soon as full council says yes, we'll be ready to go."

Ring said moving the pool to Lynnsport would tie in with a wider refurbishment of the venue, which hosts activities including climbing, gymnastics and bowls.

Over the past 30 years, various additions have been made to that venue.

"Because it's over several different levels and has loads of add-ons, the flow through the building is very, very difficult," he said.

Part of the Lynnsport complex would be knocked down to accommodate the new pool and gym space

West Norfolk Swimming Club, which has 150 competitive swimmers and 400 members, is the biggest user of the St James pool, which is 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: "I really don't want to sound ungrateful. Certainly, we welcome the new pool and certainly we want to work with the district council and Alive to make the very best of what is there."

Mr Rose said he had been given assurances that St James would not close until the new site was open.

Swimming club committee member Jennifer Patterson added: "It's exciting but at the same time hugely disappointing not to have those eight lanes.

"It seems to be an astonishing missed opportunity – a once-in-a-generation opportunity for modest additional investment to unlock something extraordinary for this area."

Her son Alex, 15, said the whole team was excited about the project.

"I think a lot more people will want to join the club [once the new pool is built]," he said.

"It will really boost club morale and help people turn up to training."