Michael, I don't actually think WW is a better site for the pool, however taking the town centre regen question out of the question, intrinsically its not necessarily a worse one. It also enables a newbuild from scratch so there is potential for something exciting here. Personally I would first like to see some comparables of what facilities we would get for our money in each case in order to make that decision, and I understand that information will be provided in the forthcoming council consultation.

Pools can work well in 'side streets and light industrial locations, ie The Bridge. They may not be pretty but they do the job.

To preserve the nature of FH as a viable town centre, retaining some sort of major facility on this site , such as a pool, would be a good bet for helping reduce the decline. However this does not preclude having something else in its place which will do as good a job, particularly if it leads to the restoration of Louise House, (which as we know will become a leading arts centre very shortly, and then where will we park the visitors coaches...). There should still be a relevant cultural cluster here to keep the momentum going.

If the issue is to support the shops and businesses at the periphery of the town centre, ie that end of Dartmouth Road, then that is a different matter and there are many economic questions in this one such as , again, whether they are in decline not because of the pool/lack of pool but because there are too many chasing the same market. Personally I recall the same problems there when the pool was alive and kicking , during the last recession for instance.

In an ideal world we would have a pool on the current site but whilst I share the outrage to a degree, I don't share the optimism that we will get it, but think instead we need to start thinking about securing the best alternative whilst we have the opportunity as it may not be here tomorrow.
Over the last 20 or so years I have supported many campaigns about the pool retention, also expressed anger and outrage about the state of it, signed numerous petitions, but now think we are closer than ever to getting something albeit not on the same site. Lets not lose sight of that.