A CONSULTATION on plans to demolish Brecon Leisure Centre to make way for a new secondary school and further education college is running until the end of the month.

Powys County Council and college the NPTC Group plan to develop a super school, which they are calling a Brecon Learning Campus comprising a new building for Brecon High School and a further education college.

It would be built on the site of the existing Brecon Leisure Centre and new leisure facilities would also be built. The council has said its preferred option would include a new swimming pool in the £75 million plan.

The present swimming pool is likely to be knocked down at the end of the two year construction period to make space for a car park.

It is intended the school and college would continue to operate in their existing buildings during the construction period, which it is hoped could get underway from April 2015 with the facilities operating from September 2017.

It is likely Brecon High School would become an 11 to 16 school following the redevelopment and the college would include a sixth form centre.

The council has published an overview of its plans on its website. http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=16534&L=0&quot">http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=16534&L=0" target="_blank">Click here to visit the council's dedicated page.

Concerns have been raised that Brecon could be left without indoor sports facilities during the construction period while there are also fears the new smaller leisure facilities will be inferior to what is already provided at the Penlan site.

Simon Williams, of the Brecon Sub Aqua Club, has launched a petition calling for the retention of the existing leisure centre and pool in the redevelopment of the education facilities.

He said: "We believe education facilities should be enhanced but there hasn't been an adequate understanding of what the requirements of the community are and no alternative options have been put forward that could prevent the knocking down of the leisure centre."

The council and college have submitted a bid for funding for the development to the Welsh Government.

The council has encouraged people to make their views on the proposals known. It has already held a public open day at Brecon High School while there is also a display at Brecon Library until the end of the consultation period where 'feedback' sheets are available.

A spokesman said: "We'd like members of the public to be aware that although we have submitted an outline case for funding to the Welsh Government last month, we are still very open to listening to people's views on what we could deliver from this site and there will be other opportunities for feedback next year should the project receive the backing of the Welsh Government."

Comments on the proposals can be emailed to [email protected]">[email protected] or posted to School Modernisation Team at Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG. The consultation closes on Friday, November 29.

'Save centre from the bulldozers' - see our story on the campaign to save the leisure centre in this week's Brecon & Radnor Express - on sale now