MORE than £300,000 is set to be spent on Otley's Chippendale Pool.

The council cash, which comes after the bitter blow of losing out £1.6 of lottery funding, has been earmarked to be spent on urgent repairs to the heating and

filtration system.

In addition, £20,000 of Ward Based Initiative Money has been pledged by Otley and Wharfedale councillor Phil Coyne and will be spent on the changing rooms.

Plans are also under way to improve

disabled access to the public pool at Prince Henry's Grammar School.

Coun Coyne, (Lab, Otley and Wharfedale) said the money - which will come from Leeds City Council's Asset Management Board - was very welcome.

He said: "It shows clear commitment by the city council to sports provision in Otley, especially at a time when sports

provision across the city is under review.

"This money will ensure that the

swimming pool will remain available for local residents and is an important step in the improvement of local sports facilities."

Coun Coyne, is chairman of the Otley and Wharfedale Community Involvement Team (CIT) which is committed to

improving sports facilities in the area.

He added: "I am very aware that sports facilities need to be improved and that we need to maintain a dialogue with the city council to achieve this. The investment of this money shows that the city council is ready to listen."

Last month the school put more than £20,000 of its own money into the pool to pay for urgent repairs.

Head teacher John Steel said the money would make a real difference to the

swimming pool and to all the public and primary schools who used it.

"I am absolutely delighted, it is long overdue and has been needed for some time to bring it up to the proper standards.

"It will make a huge difference. It is not enough to improve all our sports facilities, but it is enough to make a start."

l A joint Leeds City Council and Prince Henry's lottery bid was rejected by Sport England earlier this year.

Professional consultants had charged £27,000 to put together the bid for improvements to the pool and sports facilities but it had been turned down for several reasons including poor community support.

l Pictured left to right at the pool are head master John Steel, principal admin officer Jeremy Gibson, principal facilities manager, sports division, Chris Spargo and Coun Phil Coyne. (42-012-AH)