| New Picton Pool Joy |
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Lib Dem Council has given green light to a £12 million Olympic size swimming pool in Liverpool. The city council's Executive Board has approve a proposal to build the 50 metre facility at Picton Leisure Centre in Wavertree. The state-of-the-art pool will be one of only a handful of Olympic size pools in the UK. The majority of funding is coming from the city council, with £4m of Lottery investment from Sport England. Council leader Mike Storey said: " This will be a valuable facility not just for our own elite swimmers, but also the local community including recreational groups, mothers and toddlers and schools. " It will also be used by up and coming junior swimmers who are rising through the ranks and are potential Olympic and Commonwealth medal winners of the future. Who knows - this facility may even create heroes and heroines in the pool at the 2012 London Olympic Games! " We are delighted that Sport England has pledged its support for the project, to help us make this dream a reality," he added. The scheme will replace the worn out 80-year-old pool on the Picton site - which had to close two years ago because of structural problems. Lib Dem Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive Member for Leisure said: " Liverpool is one of the most successful sporting cities in the country and it is only right that we have the best training facilities for our athletes." " We already have first class athletics, football, gymnastics and tennis facilities in Liverpool, and the pool will allow us to bid for national swimming championships so that people can cheer on our athletes in their home city." The proposal also includes a 20 metre/4 lane training pool, 400 seat spectator area and refurbishment of the existing changing rooms and Lifestyles fitness suite. The scheme is expected to start on site later this year, with completion expected in 2006 - which is themed as the Year of Sport and Performance in the build up to European Capital of Culture 2008.
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