LAST week, three options for the redevelopment of the Victoria Leisure Centre in Sneinton went on display.

The scheme has caused a bitter battle between a local residents' group, Save the Victoria Baths Campaign, and the city council.

Campaigners want the baths preserved and refurbished and claim they have public support.

They have accused the council of misleading them and the public over the cost of refurbishment.

The council has denied the allegation and insists the existing facility is too old for a revamp and too expensive to run.

The authority claims that residents really want new swimming pools and that is what the redevelopment can provide.

Here, both sides have their say about the design options put forward by Levitate, the architects commissioned by the city council.

Mat Anderson, chairman of the Save the Victoria Baths Campaign

The proposals offered by Levitate are thought-provoking and interesting.

Of the three, the Campaign is in favour of Option A with the proviso that the Girder Hall be retained as a sports hall and flexible community space.

With the Sports Hall included, Plan A would retain all the key elements which the community have asked to be kept and so best addresses the existing sense of community ownership. Crucially, Option A keeps and improves the Turkish Baths, so dearly loved by those who use them and one of the few remaining working Turkish Baths in the country.

It is the only option where there are two proper pools, which effectively and simply addresses the issue of secluded swimming for Asian women, and for those groups who may participate in swimming if they could do so in private. With the installation of a moveable floor in the teaching pool, it could become a very flexible facility where children could be provided for with a splash facility.

The campaign favours the retention of the Sports Hall as both a sports hall and a flexible community space integrating with the market, in the light of strong support for it from the community. We do not believe this would add a significant cost to what is the cheapest of the three options presented. We also believe it would be a profitable addition to the revenue generated by the new leisure centre. Finally, it would be a useful facility to help provide continuity of leisure provision whilst development was taking place.

Of the other two options, we feel that Option B is a beautiful re-interpretation of the old Oval Pool, but sadly lacks a proper, separate teaching pool and sports hall and does not give a new lease of life to the Turkish Baths. Option C has little to recommend it, due to the fact that it has limited functionality and almost no heritage value.

In a campaign survey carried out on January 5, of the 60 people who turned up to view the plans, a clear majority favoured Option A.

Nottingham City Councillor Ken Williams

Any decision about the future of a high profile building is bound to be controversial. This is even more so when it comes attached with memories. I learnt to swim in Victoria Baths so I share this understanding. Whatever option is chosen will not suit everyone.

Victoria Leisure Centre lost over £400,000 last year and was to close. Thankfully, the city council listened and agreed to provide a 'replacement'. The key reasons were the need to retain pools in the area both for recreational and health reasons and for the centre to act as a catalyst for regeneration in the Sneinton Market area.

The swimming experience in each of the options will be different. Option A would retain the existing pools. The large pool has neither a standard length nor width. The learning pool has a 20inch height gap between the poolside and the water, which can be intimidating to some learners. It is an out-of-date feature that is not recommended. Both Option B and C have standard size main pools and a splash pool for young children. C also has a standard size learning pool. B retains the Victorian girders.

To regenerate an area like Sneinton Market necessitates greater attraction of people to work and visit there. Options B and C will make a large positive visual impact on the market area. The bland brick wall fronting onto the market area will be replaced by a modern, light building. Swimmers will be able to look out but people in the market not look in. All three options allow new activities and developments to take place.

No part of the Leisure Centre has 'listed' status. However, the clocktower/entrance will remain. There is a need to meet sporting, access and energy-efficiency requirements. It would be great to retain more heritage but there is also need for long-term sustainability both building-wise and financially. Option C comes out best financially, with the lowest projected loss!