Call for championship pool

A 50-metre national pool has opened in Swansea

A north Wales AM has called for a championship swimming pool in the region following the opening of a new 50-metre pool in Swansea.

Conservative Brynle Williams says that putting the Wales National Pool in south Wales showed that the north was "missing out once again".

Despite the fact that Llandudno is likely to benefit from a new 25-metre pool within the next year, Mr Williams intends to bring the issue to the attention of Welsh Sports Minister Alun Pugh.

"Llandudno has excellent conference facilities and hotels. A 50-metre pool would bring international competitions into the area," he said.

North Wales is well catered for in terms of six lane 25-metre competition pools for regional training and competition purposes Sports Council for Wales spokeswoman

"I will be asking Alun Pugh to support this as a matter of priority.

"It always comes down to money, and it begs the question, why does the north miss out every time?"

The Sports Council for Wales has allocated a £1.5m Sportlot grant to build two new 25-metre eight-lane pools capable of holding regional swimming championships.

Regional galas

Llandudno is set to be the site of the north Wales pool because of its central location and its current ageing facilities.

Conwy Council is the preferred partner for the development after its bid for a regional pool was accepted in principle.

It will enable short-course national championships to be held in north Wales and will be a top venue for regional galas.

The new 25-metre pool for the south is likely to be in Newport.

Brynle Williams believes Llandudno could host an international-standard pool

Paul Frost, Conwy's Head of Leisure Services, said: "The new pool will be the only one in the region with eight-lanes, which is what is needed to hold regional championships.

"The other requirements are seating for 500 people and top-level timing equipment built-in.

"The council will be discussing a report on the progress of our bid in next week's cabinet meeting."

He added that it was unlikely a second 50-metre pool is built in the north.

"It is possible to build another one in Wales," he said.

"But it would not get support from Sportlot.

"The Sports Council for Wales has a strategic requirement to build only one championship pool in Wales.

Medal hopes

A Sport Council for Wales spokeswoman added that it was a question of funding.

"Wales as a nation can only support, and has only sufficient demand for, one 50-metre pool," she said, adding Swansea had been the successful bidder

"North Wales is well catered for in terms of six lane 25-metre competition pools for regional training and competition purposes with pools in Bangor, Holywell and Wrexham."

The £10.7m national pool opened in Swansea in March and was hailed as a major boost to the country's future medal hopes.