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'People in West Norfolk deserve the very best,' the council's deputy leader said

A council is set to spend £850,000 on planning permission for a local swimming pool, which might not even go ahead.

West Norfolk Council said it plans to rip out the St James Pool in the centre of King's Lynn, which has become old with age.

Instead, the authority would like to replace the pool with a larger, newer equivalent, localed in the town's Lynnsport leisure centre.

However, the cost of the design and drawing up business deals alone could reach more than £845,000, as councillors have been asked to settle the hefty price.

A report about the planning has insisted taxpayers' cash will only "determine whether the project should proceed to construction".

As a result, the £845,000 invested in the planning could go to waste if the councillors agree to ditch the plan.

The deputy leader of the council, Simon Ring, said: "People in West Norfolk deserve the very best.

"We have waited far too long for a swimming facility that we can genuinely be proud of.

"I want us to seize this opportunity to create something exceptional, not simply replace an old pool with a new one

"Our ambition is for Lynnsport to become a nationally recognised centre of excellence for accessible and disabled sport, a place where somebody’s disability is never a barrier to taking part, competing or simply enjoying being active."

As a result, its ageing system requires regular upgrades and is becoming expensive to maintain for the authority.

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Currently, the local pool offers six lanes, which councillors have argued is a hindrance to those keen on taking swimming more seriously.

The new pool, the council report claims, would provide "greater design flexibility, reduced construction risk and less disruption to existing leisure services during delivery".

It adds that it would offer a "modern, energy-efficient swim facility capable of meeting the needs of residents, schools, clubs and the wider community".

The new, lush pool would have eight lanes, span across 25 metres, and would include a four-lane, 1.7metre learner pool as well as a splash pad.

Now, the next decision rests with the corporate performance panel, who will decide whether the considerable sum would be handed over to draw up the design.

If given the green light on Wednesday, the move would then have to be approved by the council's Cabinet, as well as the entire authority.