PLANS for a new swimming pool in Biggin Hill have been given the go-ahead by Bromley council's executive.

It follows a public consultation in the area asking people if they wanted a new pool built on the site of the current Biggin Hill Library or at Charles Darwin School.

The majority of the 10,000 homes questioned opted for the £5 million library site instead of the £3.4 million school option.

The plans will still have to go through the normal planning process before anything can be built.

Cllr Colin Smith, cabinet member for environment and leisure, said: "This is a very exciting moment for all of us, Biggin Hill residents especially. It also represents the fulfilment of this council’s promise to improve leisure facilities locally. Although I must emphasise that the decision to build the pool at Church Road does remain subject to gaining planning permission, so it may yet end up at Charles Darwin School, the really good news is that it’s full steam ahead from here on in and that the long awaited pool is on its way."

The scheme would allow a 25 metre six lane swimming pool to be constructed with a replacement library included.

Opposition leader Cllr David McBride welcomed the decision and asked for assurances that the library service would not be disrupted whilst the pool was being built.

He said: "It is essential that whilst the pool is being built, the residents of Biggin Hill should have an equivalent library service to serve the Biggin Hill community. Local residents here are not particularly near another branch library and a weekly visit by the mobile library will not be sufficient. It is essential that a proper and equivalent service is provided during the construction time."