OFFICIALS of two major bodies, who have been engaged in a war of words on plans for a new Leominster swimming pool, must bury the hatchet and work together to find £2 million to pay for the project.

The Government Office for the West Midlands "called in" Herefordshire Council's controversial plan to knock down Leominster's leaking Sydonia Pool and build a replacement on another site.

The government scrutineers have now ruled in favour of the council and thrown out an objection from Sport England, the former Sports Council.

Annexe

The decision follows the county's protracted row with the sports body which tried to block the plan for the new L-shaped pool to be built as an annexe on to the north end of Leominster Leisure Centre.

Correspondence from the body to county leisure chiefs is said to have become "acrimonious." Sport England repeatedly objected to the resulting loss of open space by the leisure centre but the Government Office ruled that there was "no substance" to the objection.

Peace talks have begun between the once warring factions. They are to put together a funding package for the pool almost certain to involve a bid for National Lottery cash.

Sport England officials are expected to swallow their pride and get on with the task, after their relief at the council's help in solving another difficulty this month. The authority stepped in to take over Leominster's crisis-hit Bridge Street sports centre.

Decaying

County leisure services manager Tony Featherstone said the Government Office decision was good news. Work could now proceed on seeking funds for the new pool.

Answering local objectors who want to save the popular Sydonia Pool, which dates from 1937, Mr Featherstone said: "Saving Sydonia is not an option. It is not repairable."

He said the whole structure was decaying and the concrete tank of the pool was leaking. Repairs would cost £1 million and the pool would then still not be up to the size and "very strict" technical standards necessary for leisure facilities.

Draft plans for the new pool have gone on display at Sydonia and the leisure centre. Mick Ligema, manager of both facilities, is encouraging users to give their views on feedback forms.