Olympic pool 'not ready for 2012'

An Olympic sized swimming pool planned for Bangor may not be ready for the 2012 London Olympics, it has been claimed.

This is according to North Down Alliance councillor Ian Parsley.

The Bangor-based council was given £15m of government funding in June 2007.

It was hoped the pool would be open by March 2010 to offer local athletes world class training facilities ahead of the next Olympics.

"Being honest, it looks very unlikely. We're still in fact on schedule to make it for that time but nevertheless you have to be realistic about these things - given the new financial reality," said Councillor Parsley, who is a member of North Down Borough Council's leisure committee.

"It's an incredibly complex project so to get the whole thing ready by 2012 is certainly some challenge.

"Realistically, what we are looking at here is a legacy for the Olympics."

The facilities to be developed at Valentine Playing Fields in Bangor include:

• A 10 lane 50m pool (with 2 submersible booms to facilitate full international long and short course facilities)

• A 5m diving pool

• Facilities for new aquatics clubs such as diving, water polo and synchronised swimming

• Strength and conditioning suites for swimmers

• Full adaptation for Paralympic swimmers

• Headquarter facilities for Swim Ulster

• Spectator seating for up to 1,500 people

An advertisement asking contractors to tender for the project, expected to cost in the region of £40m, has just gone to press.