A planning application has been submitted for a new swimming pool and leisure centre in Hythe just days after councillors agreed a new site.

Despite the council’s scrutiny committee recommending they consider the option to build the proposed centre on the available site on the Nickolls Quarry development, cabinet members chose to ignore the suggestion from fellow councillors last Wednesday.

Shepway District Council had originally earmarked land on Princes Parade for the development but in a dramatic move revealed The Green was its new favoured option last month.

The option to build on The Green is due to be discussed by Hythe town councillors next Thursday.

Hythe Town Council (HTC), which owns the land under a legal covenant which prevents building there, needs to agree to make the land available.

But SDC has already submitted an application to itself to develop The Green which arrived at the council's planning department on Monday.

If this is not agreed SDC says it will revert to building on Princes Parade and ignore suggestions Nickolls Quarry - the Martello Lakes development - is a better option.

"If HTC chooses not to release the land, we will revert to our second option of placing the pool at Princes Parade." Shepway council spokesman

Council papers published last month revealed the results of an appraisal carried out by consultants into five sites - The Green, Princes Parade, Nickolls Quarry, South Road recreation ground and the current pool site in South Road.

The report dismissed Nickolls Quarry as being too far away and concerns over the timescale of building it there.

Cabinet members decided at their meeting last Wednesday night for the town council to formally resolve whether Shepway could take over the land for £1 freehold or on a 125-year lease, by January 31, 2016.

Cllr Alan Ewart-James, who is also a Hythe town councillor, conceded at last week's cabinet meeting that scrutiny committee members “did not have much of a chance to read through” the papers because they came out 24 hours before the meeting.

“They relied on the presentation by the officer but they didn’t have the in-depth knowledge of reading the report. The result was that the committee took the easy decision of saying ‘let’s put it on Martello Lakes’ [Nickolls Quarry].”

A Shepway council spokesman said: "The option of putting a much-needed new pool on Hythe Green was suggested by Hythe Town Council and a planning application for a swimming pool on Hythe Green has now been submitted to secure that option for the town.

"Although Hythe Town Council has yet to decide whether or not to release the land, the planning application provides more details so that Hythe councillors can make an informed decision. It will also give residents of Hythe a better idea of what we are proposing.

"If Hythe Town Council does agree to release the land it will mean the whole planning process is already one step ahead. And as our existing pool is in a poor state we are keen to progress things as quickly as we can.

"If Hythe Town Council chooses not to release the land, we will revert to our second option of placing the pool at Princes Parade."

Opponents to Princes Parade say the Nickolls Quarry option is better because it will be more accessible, cost less to route infrastructure and utilities and would also support the needs for residents on Romney Marsh.