RESIDENTS in Didcot could lose their leisure pool if they fail to take part in the latest consultation on new facilities, a leading councillor has warned.

Under a proposal by South Oxfordshire District Council, the popular Didcot Wave in Newlands Avenue will close following the opening of a new £15m leisure centre in 2016.

The new facility is being planned as part of proposals for a 2,000-home estate at North East Didcot on land north of Ladygrove, owned by Reading University.

Town council leader Margaret Davies is warning that although the new centre will have a 25m eight-lane pool, residents could miss out on a separate leisure pool if they don’t back the option in an online consultation.

The district council has outlined the essential facilities it will provide to make the new centre financially viable, and it is now asking residents what extra facilities it would like to see alongside them.

The essential facilities include a 25m eight-lane swimming pool, combined with a leisure pool, while the list of additional features people are invited to select include a separate leisure pool.

Mrs Davies said it was crucial that as many people as possible backed the separate leisure pool option.

She added: “What is not spelt out in the consultation is that, as part of these plans, Didcot Wave is going to close.

“That decision was flagged up 18 months ago as part of the council’s leisure strategy but not everyone is aware of it.

“An eight-lane pool is for serious swimmers, and although the council is suggesting it could incorporate a leisure element, it would be very difficult for that pool to serve families in the same way as Didcot Wave, which has a wave-making machine, a flume and a beach area.

“It may not be possible to save Didcot Wave, but now is the time for people to lobby the council on getting a separate leisure pool at the new centre.”

In January, SODC’s cabinet member for leisure Bill Service said a deal could be struck to save Didcot Wave, if the town council, which owns the Willowbrook Leisure Centre on Ladygrove, would agree to manage it.

But Mrs Davies said talks on this had not yet taken place.

Also on the list of essentials that SODC is pledging to provide at the new centre is a 20m x 10m teaching pool, poolside spectating for galas, a multi-purpose sports hall, four squash courts, a 120-station fitness gym, and two outdoor artificial turf pitches for football and hockey.

Geraldine Kelly, chairman of Didcot Barramundi Swim Club, which meets at Didcot Wave, said: “I think it’s very important that there is a separate leisure pool at the new leisure centre.”

The online survey runs until Monday, July 22.