CAMPAIGNERS made a splash as they called on the council to support plans for a new Olympic-sized swimming pool in the city.

Swimming fans presented a petition signed by more than 2,000 people, including Olympic diver Chris Mears and swimming champion Karen Pickering MBE, to Brighton and Hove City Council on Thursday night.

Nearly 100 supporters gathered outside Hove Town Hall and called on councillors to support the idea of installing a 50m pool within any redevelopment of the King Alfred Leisure Centre on the seafront in Hove.

Swimming clubs across the city came together in support of the plan.

Neil Davies, chairman of the Brighton Dolphin Swimming Club, said: “It is about having a sporting facility for the city. We need more as they are rather lacking.

“To have a 50m pool would encourage competitions and while we are known for culture and creativity we should raise the profile of the sport side.

“We have three clubs vying for space and time in the city’s pools and the 50m pool would help.”

Brighton and Hove City Council has formally notified the development industry of its desire to create a new high quality leisure facility to replace the leisure centre.

A trade press advert seeking interest was published last Saturday as the project went out to tender.

The council is hoping to see the creation of a residential site of around 400 homes and a new leisure centre.

The petition was supported by Mike Weatherly, conservative MP for Hove, who spoke on behalf of the petitioners in the meeting.

He said: “The beauty of a flexible 50m facility is that every now and then, perhaps during the early mornings and Friday evenings, it would be transformed into all of its 50m glory and used by the more serious swimmers – many of whom are children.

“There are large economic benefits too. A 50m pool that can be used for galas will attract teams from all around the country and, indeed, the continent. These teams will use our local hotels and local restaurants.

“They will use our shops and spend money at our attractions. Any other configuration will fail in that regard.”