A SIX-lane pool, café, fitness studio and relevant changing areas are just some of the plans now available to comment on for the future Whitchurch swimming pool.

The plans for the pool were published on Shropshire Council’s planning portal on Friday after a long process of surveys and feasibility studies by the authority after it became apparent that the Whitchurch facility was no longer fit for purpose.

But now after that almost year-long process, with a number of stakeholders such as Whitchurch Town Council and North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan making their views known.

And now members of the public will be asked to give their views, via Shropshire Council’s planning portal, on the plans for the swimming centre, which were drawn up by Roberts Limbrick.

A design and access statement said: “The centre has been closed since March 2020, initially because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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“Further to that (also) as a result of the structural problems identified while investigating the cause of a leak from the pool tank, which includes underpinning issues and deterioration in the fabric of the building.

“Shropshire Council undertook a number of surveys and investigations to see if the existing building could be kept, and or the feasibility of creating a new facility.

“This was undertaken by an initial feasibility study and subsequent stage two report developing the proposed design that is being submitted for this planning application.

“The brief was to provide a swimming centre that meets the needs of the community.

Whitchurch Herald:

“This includes the provision of new water space to replace the existing ageing swimming centre on the site, as well as providing additional multipurpose activity space and fitness facilities.”

The reports added that the development, close to the town’s Tesco store, must also cater for both car and cycle parking while providing an outdoor activity space use as planners were given five key objectives.

This included delivery of a high-quality and sustainable facility, accessible and inclusive, a community space, improving community health and a reduced environmental impact of a new build.

The statement also added that a separate survey for the presence of bats and water voles – with the latter known to observers at Stagg’s Brook close to the current site – as part of the wider ecology survey.

According to the application, the swimming centre will be across two floors, with the pool, centre reception and changing facilities all on the ground floor.

Meanwhile, on the first floor will be the fitness studios (with relevant changing) which can be converted into one whole area, while the new build will cover much of the current site’s footprint with electric vehicle charging points also planned.

Anyone wishing to comment on the plans can do by searching 23/03051/FUL at Shropshire Council’s planning portal.