WITH a big increase in council tax looming, Herefordshire Council will come under enormous pressure to "seize the bull by the horns" over the Leominster swimming pool issue the town mayor said this week.

A year has passed since the county caused uproar with the sudden closure on March 8 2002 of the popular Sydonia Pool on health and safety grounds.

The council's first bid for lottery sports funding towards a £2.5 new Leominster pool was rejected later in the year.

Disappointed officials and swimmers are now involved in a waiting game to see if Leominster stands a chance of success in a fresh bid.

The results of a local 'model study' carried out by Sport England with Sheffield Hallam University is expected later this month.

The data will determine whether Sport England is prepared to channel lottery money into a new Leominster pool and if so, what size of pool it is prepared to help fund.

Leominster mayor Roger Hunt said he was "optimistic" because he had to hope for the best.

But he warned: "If Sport England will not support us the county council are really going to have to organise something themselves - they will have to seize the bull by the horns.

"The people of Leominster and North Herefordshire will not put up with endless delay, especially with the massive increase in council tax in the pipeline."

Ian Elliott, secretary of the Kingfisher Swimming Club, said this week, one year on from Sydonia's closure and boarding up, was a " sad and significant milestone."

However, club representatives were due to meet Herefordshire Council leisure chief Geoff Coles on March 20 and were hoping for good news, said Mr Elliot.

The club has had no indication of the likely outcome of the study.

The case for a full-size Leominster pool of 25 metres was as strong as ever, said Mr Elliott. The pool would serve the whole of North Herefordshire, including dozens of schools.

Schools had to make long time-consuming trips to other pools. Some had to forego swimming altogether, though it was part of the national curriculum.

A Herefordshire Council spokeswoman said the results of the user study launched by Sport England were awaited.