THE partnership behind West Somerset's flagship New Horizons lifelong learning and leisure centre has pledged not to let a failed bid for a £15 million lottery grant stand in the way of the success of the project. West Somerset Council learnt this month that its application on behalf of the partnership to the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmark Programme had been unsuccessful. Partnership chairman and community college principal Nick Swann said the bid was one of many funding avenues being explored by the group and vowed not to let the lottery decision affect the progress of the scheme. He said lottery bosses had told the partnership its application had scored highly against the various criteria but that the fund had simply been inundated and applications far outstripped the available funding. "We're pleased we made the bid because it demonstrates the New Horizons Partnership's determination to try to provide the best possible facilities and services for the people of West Somerset," Mr Swann said. He said the partnership would obviously have preferred the bid to have been successful, but such an ambitious application was always going to be a gamble and was, therefore, treated with caution. Mr Swann said: "It's much like playing the lottery - you don't stake your future on winning and we certainly haven't staked New Horizons' future on the bid. "We did not pursue this option at the expense or exclusion of any other. "In fact several alternative funding opportunities are being developed alongside the Living Landmark Programme and we will now focus all our efforts in these areas. "The New Horizons Partnership remains committed to, and confident of, securing a development that local people will enjoy and be proud of." It is believed the bid for funding was made before the Somerset Coast Primary Trust joined forces with the partnership to develop a joint scheme, incorporating the learning and leisure centre with a new Minehead community hospital. Such a venture should strengthen the partnership's ability to secure grant funding as the overall scheme will have wide-ranging health benefits for West Somerset residents. As a result, the district council has set about securing a site off Seaward Way for the development, which is scheduled to include a replacement for the district's ageing Aquasplash leisure pool. On Wednesday, council leader Cllr Steven Pugsley reiterated assurances that whatever happened to the funding for New Horizons, the district authority was committed to providing a new swimming pool in the town. He was supported by cabinet portfolio holder with responsibility for leisure, Cllr Keith Ross, who said: "Obviously we're disappointed but the leader has confirmed to me that this won't affect the provision of a new pool." It has been envisaged that as well as a hospital and a pool on the site, the Seaward Way plot will also provide a spa and hydrotherapy suite, business workshops, a range of sports facilities and services for adult education and vocational training, healthy lifestyles and physiotherapy, the arts, schools development and children.
