GEOFFREY NEWMAN, Dart mouth and District Indoor Pool Trust chairman, writes:

I am pleased to respond, on behalf of the Dartmouth and District Indoor Pool Trust, to ex-councillor Peter Norton's letter to the Chronicle last week, as it enables me to clarify a number of points concerning the funding for the building of an indoor pool.

A letter received by the trust from Dartmouth Town Council on August 20, 2010, and which was reconfirmed later clearly states that a 'sum of between £100,000 and £250,000 be identified as a figure the council is prepared to consider... subject to all other monies being in place'.

It further states that 'fundamental to the proposed project proceeding is the need to address the conditions laid down by the county'.

These conditions required by Devon County Council included the production of a viable business plan.

The town council also required confirmation that there would be no ongoing requirement for financial support beyond the amount identified over the years to come.

This business plan was approved by the county council and scrutinised by South Hams Council early in 2011 and commitments made as to funding by these two bodies.

It was also confirmed that the business plan was robust and that there was no requirement for ongoing funding beyond the capital already agreed by the public bodies.

The town council was informed that these, and other very proper conditions it had laid down, had been met.

Since then, in conversations and meetings the town council has consistently indicated its continued support for the pool and recognised the need to make adequate financial provision in line with its original resolution.

Indeed, regular readers of the Chronicle will recall seeing a very recent edition carrying a photograph of the present Mayor of Dartmouth taken barely a month ago standing with a group in front of the sign at the pool site that clearly states that building will commence in 2012 and that funding is to be provided by the county, district and town councils.

I am very grateful to Mr Norton for providing the opportunity to bring him and other readers up to date in order, as he says, to make the facts be known.