THE Sports Lottery Board has agreed in principle to give a grant of £1.18 million to fund an indoor swimming pool in Malmesbury.

The lottery panel has decided to support the project subject to North Wiltshire District Council meeting a number of conditions.

The district council's executive committee is to meeton Tuesday to consider recommendations which would cover the conditions.

The recommendations include authorising the head of North Wiltshire's Leisure Services to formally accept the lottery grant award.

County and district councillor for Malmesbury, Lesley Bennett said: "I'm ecstatic. Malmesbury has wanted an indoor pool more than anything else for years. So many people will be so happy to hear this news."

A district council spokesman said the total cost of the project was estimated at £2,5 million. The district council will have to provide funding of £1.010 million towards the project, she said.

Malmesbury Town Council and a number of parish councils have also pledged £14,000 to help with the costs, while Wiltshire Amateur Swimming Association has promised a further £1,000. An anonymous donor has also given £300,000 towards the pool.

The conditions laid down by the Lottery Board include refining the pool's design to make it more energy-saving, allowing the project to progress to tender stage to be certain of the cost , and a commitment from the district council to underwrite all of the partnership funding and ensure continued cash support.

The lottery award will only be finally confirmed once the tender process has been completed.

Until such time, all costs associated with the project will be incurred at the district council's own risk.

Coun Bennett said she would urge executive committee members to support recommendations to fulfill the conditions.

She said: "I will be arguing forcefully on Tuesday and I hope all the other councillors will agree with me."

If the executive committee agrees with the recommendations, the tender process is expected to be completed by November 2001. The pool would be scheduled for opening at the Activity Zone Leisure Centre in March 2003.

The news was also welcomed by Malmesbury town councillor Brian Slade who is chairman of the council's recreation and youth committee.

Coun Slade said: "On behalf of the town council, we're overjoyed if it goes ahead. It's something the town has wanted for some years. It will give a lot of people a lot of joy."

Mrs Bennett said the construction of the new pool would sadly lead to the closure of Malmesbury's existing 40-year-old outdoor swimming pool.

She said this is because it is not feasible to to keep open two swimming pools in a small market town.