A £3.2 million swimming pool could at last be in sight for South Woodham after a 20 year campaign.

Chelmsford Borough Council has now submitted an outline planning application for the pool and a bid is being made to the National Lottery for £1.6 million to help fund a 25-metre six-lane pool with a moveable floor and associated accommodation on land at The William De Ferrers School.

It is hoped that the pool will be open by the end of 2002 at a cost of £750,000 to the Chelmsford Borough Council, £750,000 to Essex County Council and £100,000 to South Woodham Town Council.

The land has been donated to the project by The William De Ferrers School.

"We are all delighted that this bid is going ahead," said town council clerk, Peggy Carter. "I've been here for 23 years and this is the closest we've been. Let's just say I've bought a towel but not a swim-suit.

"All the research has shown that we do need a swimming pool and we do want one but what would happen if the bid is refused I do not know."

Sport and recreation manager for Chelmsford Borough Council, John Lyons, said: "It is our intention to submit the lottery application as soon as possible after October 1.

"If the initial bid makes it past the clearance stage early next year, a second stage application will then be submitted, and a final outcome will probably be announced next summer."

An outline planning application for the pool is being considered by the borough council and if the lottery bid is successful, a full planning application will be submitted before developments can proceed.

The proposed pool will enable a flexible approach to programming through the provision of shallow water for learners and the disabled.

The lottery application has been drawn up by Surrey-based consultants, Peter Mann Partnership, on behalf of the borough council, town council and The William De Ferrers School.

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