District councillors have ignored calls to halt work on Kenilworth's new swimming pools in order to "conduct a full review", and instead voted unanimously in favour of pressing ahead with the leisure centre in Abbey Fields.

Warwick District Council's (WDC) cabinet last night voted in favour of signing new contracts with developer Kier and continuing with the pools in the town centre park.

Leader of the council, Cllr Ian Davison, described the decision as the "least worst option," while other members said it was "the most difficult decision" the new administration is likely to have to make.

A petition with around 1,200 signatures was submitted to the council calling for a full review on the project, with local campaigner Judy Brook telling councillors to make sure they have all the facts before making a decision.

"Reviewing only the current plan is certainly good housekeeping, but it is not good governance," she said.

"We are presenting our petition tonight to call for an urgent and full review of the Abbey Fields plan.

"If you are to genuinely take responsibility for making this difficult decision I would urge you to ensure you are completely satisfied that up to £27 million is good value for money."

But the cabinet voted through a report which recommends the chief executive negotiate a new contract with Kier.

The potential new budget for the pools was kept confidential, but Cllr Davison indicated the £27 million figure quoted was above what he would recommend be spent.

Members also agreed to borrow money from the Public Works Loan Board to finance the project which has seen its price rise from the £8.5 million originally forecast.

Councillors also agreed to an independent review of the figures involved, as well as a briefing on the analysis into other sites considered for the new pools.

"In terms of the view on the street in Kenilworth, I wouldn't say we have a conclusive view," said Cllr James Kennedy at yesterday's cabinet meeting.

"Certainly in my discussions, I have heard strong views both in view of continuing and in favour of pausing.

"I understand something like 50 per cent of the signatures on the petition are outside the district."

Meanwhile Cllr Paul Whiteman said: "I would urge caution to everybody who thinks there is a cheaper option down the road. There are large abortive costs. This isn't just a project overrunning, it is a rather exceptional set of circumstances where we start finding ancient ruins under the site. Arguably they could have been foreseen - it is Abbey Fields.

"But we are where we are, and we have followed the footprint of the existing building so I don't think it is quite fair to suggest that those issues could have been foreseen."

Full council will now discuss the recommendation from cabinet to press ahead with the project in Abbey Fields.

An amended application for the designs for Abbey Fields has now been submitted for the council to consider.