Kenilworth pool plan backed despite medieval finds driving up costs

Extensive medieval remains were discovered on the planned site of the swimming centre

Plans to build a swimming pool on a site in Kenilworth where medieval remains were found have been backed by councillors despite rising costs.

Ceramics and at least five buildings were discovered at the Abbey Fields site earlier this year.

Amended plans, including raising the height of foundations, mean the cost has risen from £14.7m to £22.6m.

Warwick District Council's cabinet agreed to press ahead with plans at a meeting on Thursday evening.

The local authority said it represented "the least worst option".

However, the decision will need to be agreed at a full council meeting on 15 November, to release finance.

Restore Kenilworth Lido said people had been given "a most colossal bill" for something they did not agree to.

The new leisure centre will incorporate two indoor pools.

A previous indoor pool and outdoor lido were demolished to make way for the new centre and it was during investigations of the site that the remains, some dating back to the 13th Century, were discovered.

Ceramics and buildings, some dating back to the 13th Century, were found

Jane Green, from the lido campaign group, said the cost of the project had also been influenced by the decision to include two indoor pools.

"Everybody wants a swimming pool in Kenilworth," she said. "They never wanted two, which is what's made it such as colossally expensive project."

Council leader Ian Davison told BBC CWR on Friday the Covid pandemic and war in Ukraine had also "pushed prices up hugely".

"If you carry on, it's a lot more money and if you stop, it's a lot more money," he said.

"If you abandon it altogether, the local people don't have a swimming pool. So, yes, I can't say it's a good position."

The council leader added the decision to include two pools was influenced by guidance from Swim England.

"It was evenly balanced within Kenilworth whether an outdoor, [or] an indoor second pool, would be better," he said.

"But what was very clear was both Swim England and the schools were saying for teaching children to swim, an indoor one you have to have."