Plans for two new swimming pools in Reading will pass their final hurdle next week, if approved by the council’s Planning Applications committee (PAC).

The plans are for a 25m eight-lane competition pool at Rivermead and a 25 metre, six-lane community pool, with additional leisure facilities also proposed.

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) chosen leisure provider, Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) – who currently manage Rivermead Leisure Centre on behalf of the council – has submitted the planning application and will operate the new leisure facilities once they are opened.

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The new leisure centre at Rivermead, which will replace the current building, will feature:

  • A 25m eight-lane competition pool with moveable floor and 300 spectator seats
  • A combined teaching and diving pool
  • Splash pads
  • A six-court sports hall with 250 spectator seats
  • A 120-station gym with three studios
  • A café/ info hub and soft play

The plans also include 188 new car parking spaces, 40 electric vehicle charging points and 40 cycle spaces.

At Palmer Park, in addition to the refurbishment of the existing stadium building, there will be:

  • A modern new 25 metre, six-lane community pool
  • A 100-station gym with three studios
  • An activity zone for children with party rooms
  • A new café and information hub

The Palmer Park plan also includes 131 car parking spaces, 11 electric vehicle charging points, 26 cycle spaces and parking for two coaches.

It would involve the loss of 878sqm of open space.

The council is investing more than £40 million in leisure facilities.

Council planning officers have recommended both plans be approved at the vote on Wednesday, March 31.

Concern had been raised earlier this week by pools campaigner Peter Burt about deciding on the controversial Palmer Park plan during the pre-election period, which starts on March 29.

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has said local authorities should exercise good judgement about whether it is appropriate to determine cases of local or national significance or controversy during a pre-election period of sensitivity.

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Mr Burt, in a letter to monitoring officer Michael Graham, said: “There is no doubt that the planning application for the Palmer Park swimming pool is a locally significant and controversial case, given the local resistance to the closure of Arthur Hill Pool and the loss of public open space which would result from the proposed development.

“I am therefore surprised and somewhat concerned that the council is planning to allow the application to be determined during the pre-election period.”

The purdah pre-election rules say the council should not publish any material which appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party.

Responding, Mr Graham said: “Any controversial political elements of the leisure project were determined last January at Policy committee when the council committed to the project.

“The Local Government Association guidance on Purdah confirms that councils are allowed to discharge normal council business (including budget consultations or determining planning applications, even if they are controversial).

“PAC is not a political committee as councillors are not whipped within their political groups and the purpose of the committee is to review applications based on their planning merits only.”