HOPES of securing cash from Cumbria County Council towards a new swimming pool in Grange-over-Sands will hinge on the views of councillors from the South Lakeland area.

Both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on the council tried to earmark £ 50,000 towards the pool project as part of the council's massive £46 million capital programme for the coming year.

But the move was rejected by the ruling Labour group, which instead allocated an extra £ 50,000 to each of the county's six area committees.

Council leader Coun Stewart Young said it was up to South Lakeland area committee members to decide whether to sink all the additional cash, or only some of it, into the Grange pool.

Coun Peter Jackson (Con, Grange) supported the swimming pool project, saying it was in line with council policy of encouraging economic regeneration.

He said the local community was well on the way to raising the £800,000 which would secure a £2.5 million National Lottery grant.

"A contribution from the county council would be a useful addition," he added.

Support for a council grant also came from Coun David Baxter (Lib Dem, Cartmel), who said: "A pool in Grange will be a great asset for the people of the Cartmel peninsula.

Sport England has recognised the area as being one of the most deprived in England for swimming pool provision.

"The Cartmel Peninsula Recreational Trust has done a great job in getting so far and raising money locally - but the project still needs more cash to get it built."

Funding for the pool is expected to be discussed at the next area committee meeting.