A 'DISAPPOINTINGLY poor' business plan has been drawn up for Dartmouth's £2.4m indoor swimming pool, it has been claimed.

But the document appears to be acceptable to both Devon County Council and South Hams Council and to stop the pool project now would be a disservice to the town, town councillors believe.

Dartmouth Town Council agreed on Monday to continue its support for the long-awaited pool amid fears that any hesitancy on its part could see the jigsaw pieces of the development collapse.

And Cllr Dave Cawley said afterwards the council did not want to be seen as the fall guys.

The decision follows a warning that the town council must make sure it does its own checks before releasing any money towards the building project.

South Hams Council has reminded the town council to 'carry out its own due diligence and satisfy itself that its own funds and interests are protected by appropriately conditioning any funding offer and carry out the relevant checks to ensure these are met'.

The town council has agreed capital funding of £150,000 and up to £10,000 annual revenue funding for a ten-year-period, if needed towards the pool project.

Meanwhile, South Hams Council – that has agreed capital funding of £400,000 towards the building of the pool – is still in negotiation with the contractor Kier and awaiting details of documentation to confirm that the project can be delivered within budget.

For more on this story, see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle