A pressure cooker meeting will be held tonight (27) to discuss spiralling costs and major delays dogging the build of a controversial swimming complex. Construction of the new swimming pools at Abbey Fields in Kenilworth has been put on hold after 'extensive' medieval remains were found during the foundation works.

The delay has energised those who had long opposed the scheme and fought for many years to retain the outdoor pool that had existed at the site. An update on the revised plans for the contentious project will be delivered by officials from Warwick District Council and Kenilworth Town Council at a meeting in the town tonight.

WDC Leader, Councillor Ian Davison, said: "The aim of this event is to bring the public fully up to date with the Abbey Fields Swimming Pool project. The significant, historic medieval remains necessitate substantial additional costs and time delays, so residents will be given an insight into the important decisions that the Council will need to make in the coming months."

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Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel after an overview of the findings and details of the revised plan are discussed. Kenilworth Town Council Leader, Councillor James Kennedy, said: "The town council welcomes this meeting and the opportunity to keep our residents informed of the current situation.

"I do hope that local people will come along to ask questions and find out more." Building work was suddenly halted in July after pottery, animal bones, ceramics and roof tiles believed to date back to the 13th Century were found on the site.

The artefacts were discovered among previously unrecorded remains of at least five buildings associated with Kenilworth Abbey. The finds came 11 months after the scheme was paused in August 2022 when ground workers stumbled on a section of wall thought to have been part of a water mill in medieval times.

In addition to a second indoor pool, to replace the popular old lido, initial plans for the multimillion pound swimming complex proposed a sun-terrace and café. The update meeting will be held at St Nicholas Church in Abbey Fields from 7.30pm. Places can be booked at WDC's Eventbrite link.

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