Town councillors have unanimously backed calls for better communication on the Abbey Fields leisure project.

Work on Kenilworth's new swimming pools has halted while Warwick District Council (WDC) considers the impact of the significant archaeological discoveries on the project.

And while WDC has said new designs will be considered by councillors soon, Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) has called on the local authority to provide more information to locals.

Speaking at the most recent town council meeting, Cllr Zoe Leventhal put forward a four-point plan to improve communications between the district and its residents.

"The delays have created a serious impact on the appearance, walkways, and playgrounds, as well as disrupting annual events like the duck race," she said.

"We are pleased that district councillors have worked to open the children's areas through the school holidays, but there is more to be done."

She added: "We consider that it is imperative, firstly, that the district council has the benefit of the views of the town council, as representatives of the local community, when making further decisions about the development; secondly, that further disruption at Abbey Fields is kept to a minimum; and thirdly, that the public are kept properly informed about what is going on at each stage."

KTC will now ask its district colleagues to:

• Allow the council to comment on the new plans before they are discussed by cabinet.
• Resume regular site visits with town councillors
• Arrange for the contractors to display information boards in Abbey Fields
• Publish a clear timeline of the works ahead of every KTC meeting

Speaking in agreement, Cllr Adrian Marsh said: "It is very important that we take all necessary steps to try and secure the return of swimming facilities to Kenilworth as soon as possible and that this is done at no additional risk to Kenilworth tax payers in the future."

Change of Plan?

Speaking at the same town council meeting, local campaigner Rod Jones also called on councillors to reconsider plans for a new outdoor swimming pool to be built in the town.

He and the Kenilworth Lido Campaign group has called for an urgent review into the project.

"The failure to develop leisure facilities in the Abbey Fields is now an embarrassment to the town and its residents," he said.

"The 'surprising' remains of archaeological remains should be no surprise as the clue is in the name - Abbey Fields. Given that the whole political, economic and social environment has changed since the original business case, the tender costs by Kier went up by 48 per cent. Energy costs for running two indoor pools has increased substantially, there is now increased local competition and more teaching opportunities are available locally.

"Now is the time to revisit the original business case and consider both cheaper and greener alternatives. I am asking this council as major stakeholders in this project to insist that Warwick District Council undertake a comprehensive review into the design, suitability and costs of the Abbey Fields development."

Some of the remains discovered in Abbey Fields (image by James Smith)

In response, leader of the council Cllr James Kennedy read a long report from WDC which said new designs would incorporate the remains to make sure they are preserved.

"The district council is not certain what the financial and time consequences for the project will be," he read.

"So the district council is expecting to get definitive answers to both these questions within the next few months. But a timescale is uncertain as it depends on getting approvals from Historic England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport."

He also added: "This council has over the past four years asked the district council to consider other options and to review the plans - so far without any success."

Cllr Andrew Milton also made a response, saying the focus now needs to be getting swimming facilities back for Kenilworth.

"It has been almost two years since the facilities closed, we have got to get them open as quickly as possible," he said.

"From my perspective if there is pressure to be put on the district, it is to get the pools open as quickly as possible.

"I would love to see outdoor swimming in the town, I want to see outdoor swimming in the district.

"But I think we are at the point now where for the sake of residents in our town, we need to make sure that these facilities are opened as quickly as they possibly can."