A group has created a petition after Newark and Sherwood District Council submitted plans to build a new facility rather than repair the main pool at Southwell Leisure Centre

A petition has been launched to save a swimming pool after a council confirmed that it could close while a replacement is built.

The main pool at Southwell Leisure Centre was closed on October 29 after an inspection into the cause of water loss revealed that essential works were required costing around £600,000.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has now confirmed the pool will remain closed and is proposing to build a new £5.5m swimming complex in its place.

The new swimming pool, learner pool and associated changing facilities – which is to be discussed at today’s cabinet meeting – would be built next to the existing leisure centre.

However, hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the pool to be repaired.

The Save Southwell Pool petition was created on December 17 and already has more than 700 signatures.

A spokesman for the Save Southwell Pool group said: “The loss of this pool would be felt across the town.

“While we applaud the proposal from Newark and Sherwood District Council to build a new swimming complex, we do not consider that it’s appropriate to have to wait two years for a fix to our lack of pool.

“Neither do we believe that the estimate of two years is realistic, given that Newark and Sherwood District Council have neither the land nor the funds to commit to this project.

“It’s a very real concern that despite all good intentions from the council, this is a project that may well be kicked into the long grass over and over again and never come to fruition.”

The petition aims to call on the district council to fulfil their obligation to repair the swimming pool under the terms of the lease.

The group added: “We call on them to repair our pool alongside developing their plans for the leisure centre rebuild, rather than instead of, so that our access to a local pool is restored within the year.

“This means Newark and Sherwood District Council can take the time to work with local stakeholders and properly consult, plan and finance the rebuild, ensuring the final proposal and design offer a fit for purpose leisure centre to serve Southwell for another 60 years.”

The estimated cost to repair the swimming pool is £650,000 and the works are expected to take approximately a year.

Council leader Paul Peacock said: “I’m sure most people would agree that building a new pool is a better option. It will take longer and cost more but it’s much better value for money in the longer-term.

“Up and down the country, hundreds of swimming pools have closed and never re-opened because they are really expensive to operate. That's not what we're proposing to do. Investing £5.5m in a new Southwell swimming facility is a huge investment but we place a very high value on peoples' physical and mental health and because we’re committed to community provision in Southwell.

“Newark and Sherwood District Council saved the leisure centre from closure two years ago and since then has invested heavily in carrying out repairs that the owners of the building - Southwell Leisure Centre Trust, should have done years ago.

“It's disappointing for everyone that there will be a period of time that there won't be a main swimming pool in Southwell, but I sincerely hope that people appreciate that it's simply not a good use of taxpayers money to repair the current pool and build a new one."

The proposal for the new facility will be presented to the Newark and Sherwood District Council cabinet meeting today (December 19) for approval.