Consultation Opens for New City Swimming Pool

10.59.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Jun 2009

Local residents are being asked for their comments on the proposed plans for an olympic-sized swimming pool in the heart of Birmingham. Proposals for the Birmingham Aquatics and Leisure Centre were unveiled by Birmingham City Council earlier today as public consultation began.

The proposals are for a community leisure and swimming pool facility to be built on land adjacent to Nelson Primary School on St Vincent Street owned by Birmingham City Council.

Councillor Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sports and Culture, said: "There is currently no facility for swimming in the Ladywood constituency and this would resolve that issue while at the same time providing a world class facility for the whole of the city."

"It is important to stress this is not just about providing a facility for elite performers and attracting Olympic teams prior to 2012. We're looking to provide the people of this city with the top-class sports facilities they deserve."

"This consultation is all part of the pre-planning stage for the project and it's essential the views of as many people as possible are heard."

The new facility would incorporate a 50 metre swimming pool and Olympic diving facility, a state-of-the-art leisure pool with rides and attractions, teaching pool, large fitness suite with exercise studios, saunas and steam rooms, an eight court sports hall, a two-storey climbing wall and four five-a-side pitches. It would also house a crèche, a soft play area, a café, community meeting rooms and a community policing room.

The plans will be on display to the public at Nelson Primary School located on King Edwards Road, between 4.00pm and 8.00 pm on Friday 5th June and between 10.00am and 2.00pm on Saturday 6th June 2009.