Council planners have given the go-ahead for the driveway to the Abbey Fields Leisure Centre to be widened to ensure emergency vehicles can access the site.

Warwick District Council's (WDC) planning team has said full planning permission is not needed for the works on the link from the swimming pools to Bridge Street.

Plans - which were also put forward by the local authority - show a passing place will be created near the road end of the drive, and 'verge reinforcement' will be installed along its length.

None of the 16 trees will be removed.

A supporting statement in the application said: "The client [WDC] is minded to install additional passing places and verge reinforcement at various locations along the lane, many of which fall within the RPA of retained trees and will therefore need to be constructed using specialist methods to ensure that no damage occurs to the trees in these areas."

The application added: "The works that are proposed to the existing main driveway is to enhance the driveway with verge reinforcement/passing places, which is a building control requirement to allow for emergency services to access the site in case of an emergency."

Council planners said the works fall under a 'lawful development certificate' and therefore full planning permission is not required.

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Works at Abbey Fields are nearing completion, with the new leisure centre due to open this summer.

Click here to see the application in full.