We are very pleased that the City of York looks set to benefit from new sporting facilities in Heslington. This comes after the Liberal Democrats on City of York Council have secured an agreement with the University of York on funding a new public access Sports Village. It is a development that will bring some top-class facilities for the whole of the city.

The new pool will be York’s first eight-lane pool and will also feature a training pool, competition equipment, seating gallery, family friendly changing facilities and will be fully accessible. The agreement guarantees 97 hours a week of public opening for the pool, and we will also see discounts for local residents.

New plans for the facility also cut down costs from original estimates, while maintaining the standard of facilities. The University is now funding £6 million, and the Council £3 million. This is in exchange for securing full public access to the facilities.

Work on the site will begin in early 2011. The facility is planned to be opened at the beginning of 2012.