WORK is to start on building an Olympic size swimming pool in Liverpool after the Lib Dem council approved a £15 million construction contract.

Building firm Gleeson Building Limited has now got the go-ahead to start work immediately on building 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 - £11 million - is coming from the city council, with a further £4m of Lottery cash from Sport England.

Lib Dem Council leader Warren Bradley said: "It 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!

"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.

"We are delighted that Sport England has pledged its support for the project, to help us make this dream a reality," he added. 
            
Allerton's Olympic and Commonwealth medallist Stephen Parry - who faced a round trip of almost 100 miles per day to train in Stockport during his time as a competitor - is backing the new pool: "I am absolutely thrilled that this scheme has got the go ahead. 

"Liverpool has a strong tradition of producing fine sportsmen and women, and the 50 metre pool will mean the swimming stars of the future will be able to train locally without facing the additional hassle of having to travel in order to train."

Picton Sports Centre is the largest council operated facility in the city, with more than 500,000 visits every year.

The scheme will replace the worn out 80-year-old pool, which had to close because of structural problems.

The proposal also includes a 20 metre/4 lane training pool, 400 seat spectator arena and refurbishment of the existing changing rooms and Lifestyles fitness suite.

Preparatory work has already been carried out on the scheme, with completion expected in June 2007 in time for Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture.