COUNCILLORS have formally agreed plans for a new swimming pool in Pitsea, at a meeting of Basildon Council's planning committee.

The new swimming pool will provide facilities for the people of Pitsea and the surrounding areas. The pool will also be available for local schools, giving local children a place to get active and learn life-saving skills.

The council has appointed Morgan Sindall to build the new pool, following extensive consultation with residents around plans for the facility.

The new swimming pool will be built as an extension to the existing Eversley Leisure Centre, with a four-lane 25-metre pool, dedicated changing facilities and an extension to the existing car park, providing 50 additional parking spaces for those using the centre.

The old swimming pool in Pitsea was demolished in 2012 to make way for a Morrisons supermarket, which pulled out of the project soon after.

Speaking at the meeting, Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet parish councillor Bernard Foster said: "I think to say the people in the borough were upset when they lost their swimming pool is the understatement of the year."

Later he said: "It will definitely be well used and could even save a few peoples' lives."

The borough council's head of culture and health Grant Taylor told councillors the swimming pool would predominantly serve Pistea South-East, Pitsea North-West and Vange, which have the highest levels of health deprivation in the borough.

He said: "This is a particularly important opportunity to tackle health in the area where it's most in need with the sport that is most popular in our borough."

Cllr Craig Rimmer (Con, Pitsea South-East) said: "Absolutely we have a problem with health and wellbeing in Pitsea and across the borough and this is another opportunity to elevate people's health and wellbeing and their longevity.

"We are actually living longer as a nation but unfortunately many of those years are unhealthy towards the end of our lives and if we look to other countries they have a much better record in actually living older and living well."

In addition to the swimming pool, changing facilities and extension to the car park will be built.

Facilities will be fully wheelchair accessible, with level access between the changing rooms and the pool. The site is on the green belt but the development has met the special circumstances required for its approval. Now that planning permission has been granted, construction is due to begin in the summer months. Cllr Rimmer added: "We consulted in detail to make sure this new pool will meet the needs of local people, and we have listened carefully to your responses. This new pool will provide a space for everyone to get active, learn new skills and enjoy their free time in a high quality, well-maintained facility." Cllr Andrew Baggott, Leader of Basildon Council, welcomed the news: "A new swimming pool for Pitsea will provide much needed leisure space for residents and Eversley Leisure Centre is the perfect place to build on already popular facilities. "We have listened to residents' views through a series of consultations to make sure the new pool will meet their needs now and into the future."