SWIMMING campaigners have come up with a cost-effective way of addressing the borough's lack of public pools - by raising the issue of installing one in a church hall.

Redbridge currently has just one community swimming facility to serve its 250,000 population following the closure of the old Ilford pool - far lower than the recommended national ratio of roughly one per 60,000 people.

Swimmers have called for a new facility to be built in the west of Redbridge for decades because of the difficulties many elderly and disabled people face in making the journey to Fulwell Cross swimming pool in Barkingside - but some now believe they have come up with the perfect solution.

Alan Cornish, of Tennyson Avenue, Wanstead, has written to the council suggesting that Warren Hall - which has been earmarked for sale by Cambridge Park Methodist Church - be converted into a public pool.

Mr Cornish, whose wife Janet has helped lead calls for better provision in Redbridge as a member of the Redbridge Swimming Association, believes the work could be done for just £1.2 million, compared to the estimated £35 million cost of the long-delayed plan for a new pool in Ilford.

He said: "Warren Hall would be a good site for a new small pool.

"The building is the right size for a pool and most of the work would consist of taking the floor up and installing a pool.

"I got an estimate from (swimming pool firm) Howard’s Hydrcare Ltd of around £1.2 million, and I hope the council will now consider this.

"This is an ideal opportunity to get a new pool for much less money at a time when cash is short.

"This is not meant as a replacement for the Ilford pool plan. We need a pool in this part of the borough too."

A council spokeswoman said: "The council is currently exploring a range of options for providing a new swimming pool and leisure facilities in the borough.

"A feasibility study is currently being undertaken on two sites in Ilford and Seven Kings. Officers will investigate the feasibility of the suggested site."