A crumbling swimming pool could finally be rebuilt as part of an £11m project.

Morden Park Pool has long suffered from a number of problems forcing repeated closures for maintenance work.

Problems have included ceiling tiles crashing into the pool, lengthy closures due to boiler problems and leaks and poor changing room conditions.

In 2010 plans emerged to rebuild the 33m pool with Merton Council pledging to find £11m to fund the project, however the plans never materialised.

Now, three years on, Labour councillors have renewed their wish to rebuild the pool confirming that £11m has been set aside to fund the project.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis, leader of Merton Council, said it would feature a splash pool for families.

He said: "We want the new pool at Morden Park to be part of a family leisure centre, where people of all ages can go to splash around and keep fit.

"We can only do this because we have been businesslike and disciplined with Merton’s finances.

"When I took over the Council from the Conservatives, we had to find £70m of cuts, but we are now one of the best run councils in the country and can plan our budget for years ahead.

"Previous plans were out of control and depended on private money that wasn’t there.

"My priority now is to work with residents on the best way to deliver a new pool within a very tight budget.

"All parties now need to put aside their differences so that we can have a leisure centre to be proud of.

"This is a great Christmas present for the Borough’s swimmers and for our Morden residents in particular."

A public consultation on the plans is expected to be launched shortly.

 

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