SWIMMERS have been told they will be charged just five pence more to use the new multi-million pound Olympic-sized pool in Gloucester Park.

Basildon Council has revealed the slight price difference with the current pool in the park and one in Wickford.

The announcement comes after concerns were raised by residents that they could be priced out of using the new pool, which is at the heart of the £38million sporting village complex, due to open in April next year.

The sporting village will have the 50m pool, which can be split into two 25m pools.

There will also be a gymnastics centre, eight-court sports hall, fitness suite, climbing wall, floodlit five-a-side football pitches, athletics grandstand with 750 seats, a creche and a cafe.

The controversial project is being partly funded by selling off playing fields and a playground at three different sites across the district.

The council has said a standard swim at the Sporting Village will cost £3.35 for adults, £2.05 for senior citizens and young people aged 16 and under, or £1.70 for disabled users and people on low incomes.

This is only a five pence increase across the board, which the council said is due to the VAT rise which comes in next January.

By comparison, it costs £3.80 for a standard adult swim at Brentwood Leisure Centre, and £4 at the Chelmsford Riverside Centre.

The council also reassured residents the prices would not shoot up in the future – as the core costs can only rise in line with inflation.

Kelly Herring, 38, of Ashfields, in Pitsea, works at a local primary school which regularly takes its pupils to swim at Gloucester Park.

She said: “If the costs went up, we would not be able to send our kids to the Sporting Village to swim. Parents just would not be able to afford it.

“So it’s good they’re keeping the price about the same, but I still don’t see why the council wants to build on our field.”

Keen swimmer Jonathan Spriggs, 43, of Church Lane, South Hanningfield, who recently swam the English channel, said: “I swam at Gloucester Park every Saturday as part of my training, so I’m pleased to hear the new pool won’t cost much more.

“Swimming is a great form of exercise, so it’s good that the price stays down so more people can enjoy it.”

Kevin Blake, councillor in charge of leisure at the council said: “These prices show the sporting village will be as affordable as the rest of our leisure centres, and that it really will be for the whole community.”

Other prices for the sporting village have also been released.

Table tennis hire for an hour will cost £5.80 for adults, £3.50 for senior citizens and young people, and £2.90 for disabled users and people on low incomes.

Badminton hire for an hour will be charged at £12, £7.20, and £6.05 respectively.