Turning to positive matters, and trying to get a list of requirements that would satisfy us, then seeing how best to achieve them, would it be feasible to make this an "eco" project that would help to minimise running costs and give it a design purpose beyond simply building a new leisure centre?

The Council might be able to get more grants for this and it would certainly help towards the council's 'green' targets.

In exchange we might have something we can be proud of as well as a useful local resource.

CALLING ALL ARCHITECTS OUT THERE (who seem to have surfaced though these threads): how feasible is this? Are there grants out there we could call on, and experts to help us? What sort of elements would this include? Recycling, local wildlife, alternative energy, etc.