Decision date given for �8m university sports complex

A decision on whether to build a controversial sports centre in Leicester's West End will be taken next Tuesday.

De Montfort University has applied to build an �8 million swimming pool complex with a gym, cafe and indoor sports courts on the site of the former Pump and Tap pub and Bowstring Bridge, in Dun's Lane. Leicester City Council's planning committee is due to consider the application on January 18, and have received no objections so far.

The proposal caused controversy when the 180-year-old bridge was allowed to be demolished without consent for the sports centre being granted.

Residents said the pub and bridge may have been demolished needlessly.

Critics were further concerned in October, when university bosses said proposed cuts to higher education budgets might affect the future of the sports centre. University bosses said they had cash set aside to fund the development but were re-examining finances following the Government's comprehensive spending review and alternative sources of funding were being sought.

Professor Dominic Shellard said the final decision lay with the university's governing body.

But a spokeswoman for the university this week said: "DMU hopes to continue with the project as planned."

The Government is cutting funding to universities by up to 40 per cent.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/1174403b/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0Cnews0CDecision0Edate0Egiven0E1630E8m0Euniversity0Esports0Ecomplex0Carticle0E30A80A7360Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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