MORE details have emerged over Worcester’s swimming pool plans – including proposals for an indoor cricket facility.

Your Worcester News can reveal how the city council has been in touch with Worcestershire County Cricket Club to see if they would be interested in using the new facility.

As part of preparing the bid for up to £2 million from Sport England, city council officers are actively looking at beefing up the offer the leisure centre would provide.

One idea to boost its profile and attract more revenue is a top quality indoor cricket section which could become a multi-use centre for the wider community to take advantage of.

Talks have already been held with the Pears over the development and chief executive David Leatherdale has indicated his support.

At the moment Worcestershire train at Malvern College with no provision to have an indoor facility at New Road.

Although the professionals moving there has not been discussed, there is a feeling that the new facility could become a base for the different age groups of players and for wider community use at the very least.

Mr Leatherdale said: “Any Worcester-based indoor facility would be a major benefit to the county, city and wider Midlands.

“We don’t have a base at the ground to use and that also applies to what we do with the community and the non-professional side of cricket – a base for all the different age groups.

“One conversation has been held about the fact that we don’t have an indoor facility close to the ground.”

Meanwhile, city council chiefs have also held talks with the University of Worcester which says it supports the pool, but has not provided any funds towards it.

Initial discussions have also taken place with Worcester College of Technology, which is in the same financial position.

But the college has suggested using the new facility to deliver courses as a satellite learning location, with more talks planned as the project develops.

A city council cabinet report on funding help from other public sector bodies says that there are a number of prospective partners still to be pursued.

As your Worcester News revealed this week, a mystery supermarket is also being lined up for land at Perdiswell next to the proposed new facility.

A final decision on the pool will be taken in June next year. The new facility will either cost £10.7m or £13.5m, with the high-end option still in need of £5.2m worth of extra funding.