THE dream of a new swimming pool and leisure complex for Dorchester has been dealt another blow.

Campaigners had hoped to get plans for the £7.7 million pool at Poundbury back on the agenda at a special West Dorset District Council ad hoc committee yesterday.

At least £3 million would be available for the scheme from landowner the Duchy of Cornwall, Wessex Sports Trust, which would run the centre, and a Poundbury developer.

But members of the committee voted by five votes to four to accept a resolution by the council's executive committee, which all but shelves the scheme until at least 2008. Members of the ad hoc committee backed the resolution despite pleas to refer the issue back to the executive committee.

Coun Tim Harries, who spearheaded the campaign to get the matter called in, saying there had been no consultation and that the decision had not been 'in the public interest,' said he believed more discussions were needed.

"Sometimes as elected members we have to remember that we are here for a number of reasons, including providing facilities.

"People want this. If it means £10 on the council tax then it means £10 extremely well spent. I can't see what the problem is with discussing it again - for heaven's sake lets discuss it."

Coun Molly Rennie recommended the decision be deferred back to the executive committee.

Coun David Barrett said: "Surely we should be looking at all the options we have got. We are going down on bended knees to try and find partnership funding normally, but here we are saying we don't want it," he said.

Coun Robert Gould, leader of the executive committee, said the decision to withhold funding for the pool was made as it had not been included in the council's medium-term financial plan.

"The medium-term financial strategy shows an eight per cent increase in the council take over the next few years. We are saying that we can't proceed with this project at this time.

"That does not mean that we won't continue to talk with other interested bodies to try and proceed it."

The committee agreed not to refer the decision back to the executive committee, which means it has been implemented.

Coun Harries said after the meeting: "I am very disappointed."