Bromyard has gone to battle with Leominster over the siting of North Herefordshire's planned £2.2 million new swimming pool.

Bromyard councillor Richard James has launched a campaign to get the pool built in his town because, he claims, it is more deserving. But Leominster is standing firm, its mayor claiming that the town is at the centre of North Herefordshire.

Mr James, who hopes to bring the issue to a vote, claims 'too much moaning' has come from Leominster, which 'blew its chance' with the neglect and closure of Sydonia.

Out of step

"All I have ever wanted is for each market town to have its fair share of resources and Leominster has had far more than its fair share," Mr James told The Hereford Times.

A huge error was made by Leominster's former district council in funding the 'white elephant' Bridge Street Sports Centre instead of financing the upkeep of the Sydonia pool, he said.

The people of Leominster could not shift all of the blame on their former LDC councillors. "The people elected the councillors, " said Mr James.

But the outspoken former fireman, who says he is willing to 'take the heat' over the issue, found himself out of step with his political group leader this week.

Conservative leader Olwyn Barnett wants the new pool built in Leominster and rejects 'going back over what was done in the past.'

Mrs Barnett said: "No doubt all of the old councils made some errors but we are a unitary authority now and have got to look to the future."

Mr James was unrepentant. He said: "As far as I am concerned - Leominster you had your chance. The record shows how important your pool was to you. It came second to everything else.

"Now its time someone else had a chance and no town in the county has fought harder than Bromyard for a pool."

Leominster's mayor Patricia Thomas sympathised with Bromyard's desire to get a pool but said it did not have a good case in geographical terms.

"Leominster is the centre of North Herefordshire and is much more easily accessible for the majority of people than Bromyard," said Mrs Thomas.

"If the pool was built at Bromyard how would the people of Kington manage?"

Olwyn Barnett said she had 'every sympathy' for Bromyard and defended the right of its councillor to speak out.

But she added: "The council simply cannot afford to provide every town with a pool. Leominster is the main market town of North Herefordshire and it must get its replacement pool."