A NEW swimming pool will be built somewhere in the north of Brent, it was decided this week.

Nearly 20 per cent of the borough is believed to be obese and Brent Council wants to encourage more residents to be physically active.

Leading councillors voted through a series of policies aimed at improving a number of leisure centres where people already play sport but will prioritise finding somewhere to build the new pool.

Councillor Irwin Van Colle, responsible for environment, planning and culture, said: “It's not the only swimming pool we are going to need but in terms of priority we decided that was the greatest priority.”

Councillor Kanta Mistry (Cons, Queensbury) has been campaigning for investment in sport in her area and said she would like to see the new pool built there.

She said: “I have spoken passionately over the last 18 months to get some kind of consensus that there should be a site in Queensbury or Kingsbury.

“We'd love to have a swimming pool there, especially when you consider the number of schools in the area.”

Leading councillors approved plans to build a new pool in a meeting on Monday, November 17.