CONCERNS have been raised over plans to tie a new swimming pool together with plans for an “enterprise centre” and other facilities.

A recent report revealed that the plans for a £10 million swimming pool at Squire Lane were currently on hold while officers looked into the possibility of a wider development of the site.

It would see Bradford Council working with Well North Enterprises CIC to re-draw plans for the site.

The issue was discussed by members of the Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee on Thursday evening.

The original plans for Squire Lane include a swimming pool, gym and dance studios.

It was part of Bradford Council’s plan to close a number of swimming pools and leisure centres that had been deemed “outdated” and replace them with modern facilities costing £28.1 million.

The £17.8 million Sedbergh Leisure Centre, which forms the other part of the scheme, is due to open next month.

The Richard Dunn centre will be demolished, and Queensbury and Bingley pools closed under the plans.

At Thursday’s meeting Councillor David Heseltine (Cons, Bingley) said: “The original plan for Squire Lane was that the pool would be finished around the time Bingley Pool was shut. Bingley pool is set to shut next year and this isn’t ready.”

Andy Ross, project manager for the Sedbergh Sports Centre, said: “We were approached by Well North over whether this site could be developed as much more than a swimming pool.

“We felt that a wider health and wellbeing centre would better serve the residents of Girlington. We thought it shouldn’t just be a sports facility, it should be more.”

He said the Council would still be able to develop the leisure part of the site, “future proofing” it so Well North could expand the site to their wider vision.

Councillor Kamran Hussain (Lab, Toller) said: “This worries me quite a bit. Well North is a private entity.”

He began asking Mr Ross about the plans, but Shelagh O’Neill, Assistant Director - Economy and Development told him that Mr Ross was there to speak about Sedbergh, and was not the officer for Squire Lane. She added: “This plan gives us the opportunity to do something completely different. It is very much about bringing people together.

“But the process has taken longer than we would have liked.”

Other Councillors raised concerns about the location of the planned pool, on a busy road near both Bradford Royal Infirmary and Bradford Girls’ Grammar School.

Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) said: “Are we not overdoing this? Look at it from an infrastructure point of view. There is the school and hospital right next to this site. Is it right to want to put more on here?”

Mr Ross said the site may accommodate some health or hospital facilities that would relieve pressure on the main hospital site.

Cllr Ahmed added: “Will bringing more people here not make traffic worse? People can’t find a place to park around there as it is.”

The Committee asked that they be given an update on Squire Lane in six months time, or before any major decision is made regarding the site.