Councillors have called for answers over the continued delays to the new swimming pool in Abbey Fields.

Having been put back originally as Warwick District Council (WDC) finalised the contracts for the project, it has further stalled following the archaeological discoveries under the old leisure centre.

But with no announcement having been made on when work will start on building the new pool, local Liberal Democrats have urged the council to keep local residents informed.

"Abbey Fields is one of Kenilworth's and Warwick district's treasures. It's a place for recreation and leisure for residents, a destination of choice for visitors and home to some vital fauna and flora," Cllr Richard Dickson said to Nub News. 

"The swimming pools project is one of the largest investments in the district and it's now many months since medieval remains were discovered. 

"We need the district council to tell us what's going on."

Kenilworth's Lib Dems have also called on the new portfolio holder for safer communities, leisure and environment to release a statement on the "design, cost and timing implications of the discovery of medieval remains for the swimming pools project".

Some of the remains found at Abbey Fields (image via Kenilworth Town Council report)

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In response, a WDC spokesperson said work continues with Historic England, the County Archaeologist, Archaeology Warwickshire and the council's own archaeologist to examine the remains.

But the local authority said the building is currently being redesigned to accommodate the findings.

"We have now agreed with Historic England how we will preserve all of the best quality remains that have been found," they said.

"We are also in the process of redesigning the foundations of the new building in order to restrict any damage to medieval remains. 

"Once this new design has been prepared we will agree with Historic England the location of each structural pile and each service entering the building."

WDC said it will not be able to assess the financial impact of the fines until the new designs are complete. This will then be reported to the council's cabinet.

The spokesperson added: "The council is aware of the continued inconvenience of the works to the users of Abbey Fields, but we are sure that you would want us to exercise due care and attention to recording and preserving the medieval finds in this location. 

"We are working hard to complete this work so we can begin construction as soon as we possibly can."

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And the group has called for a timetable on the much-delayed Abbey Fields Management Plan, calling for reassurances there will be no repeat of last year's problems with the lake.

"We're also about to enter the driest and warmest time of the year, so assurances about the water quality in the lake are much-needed," Cllr Dickson added.

WDC has previously committed to making sure there is no repeat incident this summer.

Volunteers removing live fish from Abbey Fields during the dry weather last summer (image by Richard Smith)