Heston Leisure Centre plans suffer fresh blow

The announcement, which was predicted by the Chronicle last September, means it could be years before regeneration of the facilities begins.

It is already a decade since proposals to replace the ageing Heston Pools were first mooted, and five years since Barratt was selected as the council's preferred developer.

Council leader Peter Thompson said: "While it's disappointing we can't take this forward any further in its present form, we have to be realistic.

"The deal on the table would not have seen anything being built for a significant time, and would have prevented any other plan being put in place.

"We are deeply committed to giving local people the leisure facilities they deserve, so now we are going to take a look at what other options there are."

Hounslow Council had reached an agreement with Barratt to build a leisure centre and library in the south-west corner of Heston Park, in return for permission to build homes on the site of the existing facilities in New Heston Road.

However, falling property prices mean the land in question is now worth significantly less than the estimated £20million cost of the leisure centre.

Realising it could be years before the housing market picks up, making the project viable again, councillors decided to ditch Barratt and go back to the drawing board.

Officers will now prepare a report outlining possible alternatives to presented to members of the executive committee later this year.

David Blackett, chairman of Heston Residents' Association, described the announcement as a major setback for the area.

"The seemingly inevitable decision not to take the project forward due to the present economic circumstances is both disappointing and frustrating, even more so in view of the programme to invest in Leisure Hubs at Isleworth, Feltham, Chiswick and Brentford," he said.

"Heston also deserves investment, but there must be no compromise, there needs to be commitment and it needs to be viable and sustainable.

"For too long there has been a lack of investment in the Heston area, an area that has continued to expand with a greater number of young people.

"The executive must appreciate the needs of Heston, and must remain committed to providing Heston with the facilities it needs and deserves."