AN ACTION group have submitted their full plans for a new community swimming pool for Burnham to Maldon District Council.

The Standard reported last year that Burnham’s Own Leisure Development (BOLD) had been formed made up of town residents keen to bring a swimming pool to the Dengie peninsula.

The group had drawn up their vision for a new swimming facility for the town after an overwhelmingly positive response to a public survey they carried out.

Now, with backing from Burnham Town Council, BOLD have sent their full plans to Maldon District Council for consideration.

The proposed facilities are a 25 meter pool with six or four lanes with a training pool for lessons and water aerobics, with an additional space for a gym, fitness studio, café and possible climbing wall.

Several potential site locations include land adjacent to the Dengie Sports and Leisure facility on Mill Fields, or the sports centre plot itself, as the existing facilities are outdated. Ormiston Rivers Academy and town council owned land opposite the Dunkirk Road allotments are also listed possibilities.

The centre would be open seven days a week from 6am until 10pm, with multiple full-time paid staffing positions.

BOLD has calculated the cost of producing a four lane pool facility would be £2,937,600, a six lane pool £3,899,100 and a six lane with a training pool £4,690,600.

The estimated operating profit for the six lane and training pool would be £24,230 per year.

Funding possibilities have been listed from Sports England, the National Lottery, Magnox who operate Bradwell Power Station, developer contributions and crowdfunding.

BOLD’s report said: “The vision is for a pool and fitness centre with provision for fun and relaxation, teaching and serious workout.

“It will encourage the elderly or less fit to lose weight, maintain mobility and flexibility and improve cardiovascular performance.

“It will have a good range of facilities and equipment. Collaboration with local schools and medical facilities and national organizations (for example the Amateur Swimming Association ‘Swimfit Programme’) will ensure that it can offer a coherent programme of fitness to people of all ages.”

In order for the plans to proceed, a swimming pool assessment using the facilities planning model by Sport England must be carried out.

As the local authority, Maldon District Council must commission the assessment.

Sport England have stated the project would take two years to complete once permission is given.