THE future of Waltham Abbey's new sports hall looks in serious doubt after the district council's cabinet voted to shelve the project indefinitely.

Epping Forest District Council had promised to build a £1.72million sports hall at the site of the current Waltham Abbey Swimming Pool, in Roundhills, but has said that is no longer viable in the current economic climate.

Leisure and wellbeing portfolio holder Brian Rolfe told the council's cabinet: “It'd be unrealistic if I said it will possibly happen for two or three years but we will review it every year.

“I know this is not going to be very welcome for a lot of people but we have to make some provision for other people.”

The council had promised to build the new facility after its agreement to share the facilities of King Harold School's sports centre ran out.

But Mr Rolfe said this was now a less pressing issue as the school had since agreed to let many clubs carry on using its facilities.

Cabinet member and Waltham Abbey councillor Syd Stavrou voted against the proposal.

She said: “I really wish to voice my disappointment that at the present time the money for the swimming pool doesn't seem to be available.”

Finance portfolio holder Chris Whitbread said: “At the present time we are having to make some very difficult decisions. We will keep up a review. If money becomes available we'll look at things.”

A number of sports groups were looking forward to using the new centre, which was due to be built in the summer of 2011.

Among them was Rod Butler, who runs the Shotokan Karate Group at King Harold's sports centre.

He said: “It will affect us because we were hoping to expand our activities and get a bit more space. At the moment we've got a very small area to work in and we were hoping in a year or two we would have this big new sports centre.

“With all the things going on it doesn't surprise me. The Government has just been spend, spend, spending money and we are all now having to pay. It's just a shame.

“You've just got to accept these things as long as the council doesn't start spending money on stupid things. It's very easy to spend other people's money.”