A NORTH Herefordshire 'squire' is urging a peasants' revolt in Leominster over plans to bulldoze the popular Sydonia Swimming Pool and build a 'downsized' replacement on another site, writes PETE BLENCH.

Regular swimmer John Gaunt, owner of Wigmore Castle, is urging Sydonia users to speak out during consultation. It follows a public display of plans for a £2 million new pool to be built on to the north end of Leominster Leisure Centre.

Mr Gaunt, a former technical studies teacher, says he is horrified at the 'cramped' design and the lack of 'social space'.

Swimmers will lose out in other ways, he says. Separate changing rooms for men and women would be scrapped in favour of a mixed-changing 'village' of cubicles.

Sydonia's separate shower facilities would also be dumped to be replaced by unisex poolside showers at the new facility.

"For anyone who feels embarrassed about their bodies, for whatever reason, poolside showers are not nice," said Mr Gaunt, who is disabled. He says some disabled or overweight people could come into that category.

Mr Gaunt claims repair work would be more cost effective than spending £2 million on a new pool - and potentially much more - at a 'boxed in' site by the leisure centre which allows no room for expansion.

County leisure services manager Tony Featherstone insisted: "The entire structure is beyond its useful life."

County officials are working with Sport England to seek funds for the new Leominster facility. A bid for lottery cash is expected.