CAMPAIGNERS and civic chiefs have clashed over Winchester’s planned £38m sports and leisure centre in a row over its environmental impact.

City council sports chief Cllr Lisa Griffiths issued a strongly worded statement after WinACC (Winchester Action on Climate Change) said the plans included “serious inadequacies”.

In a statement published on their website, executive director Tom Brenan said: “The council also has an excellent opportunity to make progress on its broader low carbon commitments such as an increase in renewable energy generation across the district.

“At present, however, the application fails to seize these opportunities and WinACC urges the planning committee to request further information.

“If the decision is made without this information, WinACC considers there is a risk that a decision granting permission may be susceptible to legal challenge.”

The group says the proposed leisure centre, which would replace the run-down River Park Leisure Centre, fails to consider policies relating to the site’s carbon footprint.

A spokesman added: “There are such serious inadequacies within the transport assessment that the application fails to meet the requirements... on promoting sustainable transport.

“The inadequacies within the transport assessment could lead to the development having significant environmental effects in terms of air pollution and climate change.”

Hitting back, Cllr Griffiths, chairman of the sport and leisure centre committee, said: “We are deeply disappointed in WinACC’s response to the planning application.

“WinACC has been a key participant in our Sustainability and Green Issues panel for this project and were represented by their executive director and a sustainability expert.

“We specifically asked for WinACC to participate in this panel so we were able to benefit from their expertise and input. There have been many opportunities to raise these issues during the various meetings over recent months, but they have failed to do so.

“The council is fully committed to reducing its carbon footprint and the design and supporting information submitted with the sport and leisure park planning application wholly reflects this.

“We strongly dispute that the proposals are not within the National Planning Policy Framework and that the package of measures to be delivered will provide an excellent choice of sustainable transport options.”

CHRONICLE COMMENT: 'Winchester Sports and Leisure Centre - the best is the enemy of the good' >>>

The Lib Dems have also ramped up their criticism of the scheme. Cllr Jackie Porter said: “The current price ticket of £37.5 million is £10m higher than the original quote but the facility mix is smaller. Costs are escalating with nothing extra for our residents.”

The row came ahead of last night’s committee meeting, which heard feedback on the planning application.