AN ambitious project to breathe new life into Plainmoor Pool and provide sports facilities for pupils at Westlands School has been officially launched.

The scheme could improve community leisure, sports and education facilities in Plainmoor and work is getting underway to get the views of local people.

Torbay Council, Swim Torquay and Westlands School have joined forces to carry out a study into whether a new centre can be built on the site of the existing swimming pool at Plainmoor.

But the pool supporters are still struggling to raise the cash needed to keep it afloat in the meantime.

All three partners were already looking at ways to improve their facilities.

Swim Torquay is looking to replace its existing buildings which are nearly worn out, the neighbouring Westlands School wants to develop a fitness suite and information technology while the council is keen to provide an all-age community centre for the area.

Now local architects have been appointed to carry out a study into the feasibility of the project. Over the next few weeks the architects will be meeting representatives from the swimming pool, the school and the local community to assess local needs. There will then be a wider consultation with local people about plans for a new centre to judge the level of support and test out the ideas developed by the architects.

Torbay Council cabinet member for children's services Anna Tolchard, said: "The project is at a very early stage. No decisions have been taken and no plans have been drawn up yet. However, we are all excited about the potential for a mixed use centre that would provide a great range of facilities for all ages and give the area a real boost."

Dave Butt, cabinet member for community services, said: "We are looking forward to consulting on this idea because the views of local people are very important to us. A centre like this will only be successful if it is well used and sustainable for many years to come. We would also want this to be something that the local community has helped to build and has a stake in managing."

Westlands School headteacher Mike Stewart said: "Westlands looks forward to supporting this exciting community project to provide enhanced facilities for the local community and to ensure additional quality provision to match the new facilities provided at the school."

Peter Tysoe, spokesman for the pool, said: "We are all very excited though we know that finding funding is going to be a big issue. We are cautiously optimistic about the future prospects though we realise there are many problems to be faced.

"The council realise the value of the pool to the area and it is a facility they don't want to lose."

He said it could mean the pool could be expanded to six or eight lanes from its current four and the possibility of a learners' pool.

"We will be looking at potential sources of funding such as Sport England. But in the meantime we still need to raise £20,000 a year to keep the pool open because of the rising utility and other costs. Councillors Peter Addis and Alan Faulkner have been active on our behalf, but we still need to raise that money to keep going."

An application has been made to the council's Schools Capital Programme to fund the education elements, and the partnership believes that bids to external agencies can be made to fund the swimming and community elements.

It is expected that the feasibilty study will be ready in March, when further consultation will take place.