Boost for leisure centre plans

The £4.2million plan to demolish Rugeley swimming pool and extend the current leisure centre is set to be given the go-ahead next week.

The Cannock Chase District Council planning committee are expected to rubber-stamp the proposal for the new swimming pool at a meeting on Wednesday , and if given the go ahead, work is expected to start on site in March next year.

A report set to be submitted to councillors says it will vastly improve sports facilities in the town. The Rugeley Pool Steering Group Committee examined the final drawings for the scheme last month and made sure all the designs for the new centre are up to scratch.

It has a 25-metre six lane pool with changing rooms, toilets, showers, an administration office, a store and plant room.

Visitors will use the same entrance but the foyer will be enlarged with a new viewing area and front entrance porch.

The current barrel-shaped roof will be changed to a mono-pitch roof sloping from the front of the building to the back to accommodate the new pool.

A traffic study has estimated that there will be 23 car trips to the centre during morning rush hour, 43 during the evening and 58 at peak use on weekend afternoons, but that is not anticipated to cause any highways problems.

The existing 156-space leisure centre car park will be unaltered apart from the re-designation of some spaces for parents and toddlers.

Coach access will be from the main Hagley Park Sports College entrance to a modified coach parking area at the side of the side of the building with spaces for two coaches.