A CHARITY which hopes to build a new swimming pool at Poundbury in Dorchester intends to push ahead with a scaled down scheme.

The Wessex Sports Charitable Trust had hoped to build the new Dorchester centre with financial support from West Dorset District Council on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

The £7.7 million scheme would have been jointly funded by the trust, the Duchy of Cornwall, developer, and the district council. Around £3 million had already been set aside for the scheme and it was hoped the district council would make up the shortfall.

But because funding for the original scheme was not included in the medium term financial strategy for the district council, council chiefs decided to withhold vital funding until at least 2008.

Supporters of the project hinted they would go it alone with a scaled down project using the £3 million already earmarked for the scheme. In a letter seen by the Echo Tom Denley, chairman of the sports trust, reveals that was now the trust's intention.

"Following the district council's executive committee decision not to recommend the approval of the Poundbury Leisure Centre large scheme the Wessex Sports Charitable Trust are of the opinion that the best way forward would be for the WSCT to submit a planning application for the leisure centre with a small fitness/training pool that is designed from the outset to be extended."

He said the scaled down proposals include a pool measuring 20 metres by eight metres, changing areas, health suite, activity spaces, clubroom, caf and tennis courts.

He said the phase one development would be designed to allow a full size competition pool to be created in the future and all the facilities would accommodate a future extension.

Mr Denley said it was hoped that the pool would be funded through Section 106 money - money promised for leisure facilities at Poundbury when planning permission was granted - the Wessex Sports Charitable Trust itself, an enabling residential development and the Duchy of Cornwall.

"No additional capital contribution would be required from the local authority and there would therefore be no impact on the local council tax.

"Naturally, should a decision be made to extend the building to accommodate either a competition pool or a large dry sports space further funding would need to be sourced."

Mr Denley said he believed that by building a scaled down pool it would be easier to find funding for any extensions in the future.

"We are in no doubt that the phase one leisure centre building will provide the district with an outstanding new facility that will be well-placed to grow into a facility of regional standing once the future phases are funded and con-structed."