A MAJOR project to knock down and rebuild the run down Handy Cross sports centre took another small step forward last night.

Wycombe District Council Leader Alex Collingwood and his Cabinet reaffirmed their commitment to the scheme – which overall will cost £32.4m.

A group of councillors set up to look at the idea have agreed there is a need to replace the current facilities.

But how the new centre will be financed is uncertain.

The multi-million-pound sports complex would be built directly behind the current sports centre, which would be closed and demolished once its replacement is open.

It is proposed the complex would open by 2015 and the site would also comprise a coachway with direct links to London, Oxford, major airports and shuttle buses every 15 minutes to and from the Eden shopping centre.

Cllr Ron Gaffney, Chairman of the Improvement and Review Commission, which has been examining the idea, said the scheme is only at the first of many fences in a long course.

He and vice-chairman Cllr Julia Langley agreed that financing the scheme is a key concern currently.

Deputy Leader Cllr Arif Hussain said, regarding financing: “We have looked at different models but at this stage we haven't really come to a conclusion.”

Cllr Collingwood said: “In terms of money, literally, as Cllr Hussain has said, we are sitting down talking over the options in much more detail to see what the pluses and minuses are.”

He told the BFP today although “we'd love a Rolls Royce” sports centre the council has finite cash and must look to get the best value for money it can.

He was asked last night by Labour's Cllr Ian Bates whether money raised by the sale of over 6,000 council homes to newly established Red Kite Community Housing could be used.

Cllr Collingwood said: “At this stage we don't know really because we are going to sit down with the task and finish group, it's a partnership, to work out the funding going forward.”

Interim Head of Housing Steve Tucker previously told the Bucks Free Press the receipts from the tenant-led transfer to Red Kite would be used for community projects, indicating the sports centre could possibly be one such scheme, but this was up to councillors to decide.

An outline business case has been produced for the council, which recommends creating a 50 metre eight lane pool, a 150 station gym, a café and vending area and a 12 court sports hall.

Other possible additions to the site such as a medical centre were discussed.

But it is too early to say what else will be included, Cllr Gaffney said.

Cabinet will consider further reports on the centre in February and planning applications may be lodged in March.