COUNCIL leader Chris Robbins has accused his political opponents of “playing student politics” over the authority's plans for the Arcade site.

Cllr Robbins, and his Labour group, has infuriated his Lib Dem cabinet colleagues by pushing ahead with plans to procure a developer for the Arcade site development without a financial appraisal or feasibility study.

The latest plan for the Arcade site, on the corner of Hoe Street and High Street, will be a swimming pool-led scheme funded by £35m of taxpayers' money and £10m from selling the Pool & Track, in Chingford Road, or “alternative assets.”

Cllr Robbins has now repeated his promise that the pool at the Chingford Road facility will not close until the new facility at the Arcade site development is open.

He also said the track will remain in place.

He said: “Some people have been playing student politics with our plans for the pool and track in Chapel End.

“Labour councillors are not prepared to settle for second class facilities and believe our community deserves leisure facilities that will encourage and inspire participation in sport.

“Our borough faces a clear choice. Labour councillors who want to take action, provide new and better facilities, provide jobs and investment and hope for families and businesses.

“Or it can stand still while boroughs around us take away our talent by providing investment and better equipped facilities.

Cllr Robbins' comments are unlikely to convince Lib Dem leader John Macklin or Conservative group leader Matt Davis, who are sceptical about Robbins' latest plan and fear for the future of swimming pool facilities in the area.

The damaging row over the Arcade site could have serious implications for the future of the council's Lab/Lib ruling coalition.

The Lib Dem group is understood to be considering its options, which include voting Cllr Robbins out of office with the help of the Conservatives.