INCREASING the facilities at a Monmouthshire swimming pool development will push up costs by £1.5million.

Councillors from Monmouthshire’s cabinet approved the decision to increase spending on the project after hearing that the extra facilities will help tackle obesity.

The pool, which will be based in Monmouth Leisure Centre, will include facilities such as fitness stations, a small spa and soft play areas.

The original proposal was for the new pool to be adjacent to the leisure centre, but the plans were scrapped in July 2014 after the council agreed to build the new £47 million Monmouth Comprehensive School on the pool’s current site.

The school is part of the 21st Century Schools programme, which is an ‘all schools’ strategy designed to deliver sustainable and inclusive change to teaching and learning throughout Monmouthshire.

Around £204,050 in under spends from the 21st Century Schools programme will be used to develop a business case for enhancing the leisure centre facilities, pushing costs up to £1.5million.

A report before cabinet recommended taking the sports’ hall from the leisure centre into the new school to make room for the new pool at the leisure centre.

The proposals will also use Section 106 monies of up to £500,000 from the Wonastow Road housing development to cover the additional cost.

Deputy leader and cabinet member with responsibility for enterprise, Bob Greenland, said the new facilities will help tackle the issue of childhood obesity.

He said: “Active leisure pursuits have changed over recent years and we want to keep attracting individuals and families into the leisure centre. Facing the prospects of increases in child obesity it is important that children find fun in using the leisure centre through soft play and other exciting activities.

“The cost pressures on the provision of a new school mean we can no longer expect the new pool to be funded as part of that project but I am very pleased that we can consider these new proposals which can be partly funded by better use of the leisure centre and through new facilities such as a toning suite and spa.

“Having agreed the proposals we can move towards the final business case which will give us cost certainty of the project. Once we have more clarity on what can be provided, we will be undertaking further consultation with existing users and other interested parties.”