A £5 million swimming pool and multi-purpose sports centre will start to take shape next year - just two years after the old pool had to close because of a dangerous structure.

The Lottery dream has won the backing of Todmorden town councillors and members were told that Calderdale had also pledged support for the scheme.

Schools and organisations from a wide area had already put their names forward for early bookings and there had been "an excited reponse" from the town.

It is the borough's biggest Lottery grant but the district council's euphoria will soon have to switch to serious consortium considerations. "Again it will be a question of just going away and doing a lot of hard work," warned borough baths manager Carolyn Downes, who came to the town to discuss long term management of the project with the council.

The Mayor Coun Steve Martin said: "We have waited a long time for this. It is wonderful for our young people. The high school has a right to be overjoyed. "

Coun Albert Marshall said Todmorden could be justifiably proud of what had been given, after years of fighting.

He said it was good to hear that a lot of people where showing considerable interest.

"We have waited a long time to get this and it is only right and proper that the people of Todmorden should be given priority.

"They have waited a long time and been very patient. It has been rewarded."

The lottery sports fund contributed 90 per cent of the £4,593,000 and the funding came about after visits from both regional and national sports councils.

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