A long-awaited indoor swimming pool should be up and running in Chipping Norton by the end of next year.

The Sports Lottery Board announced last week that it would put £2m towards a £4m leisure centre at Chipping Norton School.

Now officers from West Oxfordshire District Council, representatives of Sport England and the architects are drawing up the final details and timetable for building the centre.

It will be open to both the school and the community.

As well as an indoor swimming pool, it will include a sports hall, squash courts, dance studio and floodlit courts.

The district council's director of planning Andrew Tucker said: "We are producing a timetable and hope to have a completion date for 2001." The chairman of the council council Tony Walker said it was wonderful news.

"People in Chipping Norton can't wait for it to be built," he said.

District councillor Eve Coles said: "For the last 30 years, an indoor pool has been at the top of the list for things needed in the town.

"People in Chipping Norton are thrilled they are going to get an indoor swimming pool at last."

Story date: Saturday 18 March

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