A MULTI-MILLION pound swimming pool for Poundbury has moved a step nearer.

A £5 million pool is being proposed to replace the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre, which members of West Dorset District Council's community overview and scrutiny committee found to be 'poor value for money' with 'insufficient capacity' to meet the demands of a growing population during a review of the facility.

Members of the committee yesterday agreed to recommend the council's executive committee to invite a private sector management company to design, build and manage the new complex opening in 2009.

They backed the recommendation after Ron Scholes, director of community development, told them that they had two choices for the future of leisure facilities in the county town - keep the existing pool open and invest hundreds of thousands of pounds, or build a new one.

"Staying where we are means we wouldn't be fit for purpose and the situation will only get worse as the population grows."

Earlier Adrian Stuart, the council's finance manager told the committee that if the decision was taken to refurbish the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre it would be equivalent to £11.17 of council tax.

A new pool would cost council taxpayers between £13.34 and £15.78, depending on what the charges were for using the facility.

It will now be up to the executive committee at its meeting on November 15 to decide whether or not money for the new leisure facility is available.

A site in Poundbury has already been earmarked for the building, which will include a 25m pool and a learning pool. The Duchy of Cornwall is offering £1million towards the new complex and DC leisure, a private company, had expressed an interest in building and managing the scheme.

Additional facilities on the site would be at the developer's discretion.