Experts claim they must first concentrate on starting the New Entertainment Venue, finishing Sundorne Sports Village and working on plans to move the museums service from Rowley’s House to the Music Hall.

Borough deputy chief executive Geraint Morgan today blamed the excessive workload for the swimming pool hold up.

“We have decided to defer any further meetings about the pool because of the workload,” he said.

“There was one scheduled for September 25 and that has been cancelled. We cannot make up the workload until after Christmas.

“All members of the consultation group have been informed. It is because a number of other piles of work have to be undertaken by the same staff.

“One of the issues we will hopefully put to bed will be the new theatre. Hopefully we will sign the contract for the new theatre in the next seven days.

“There is the sports village, which is not yet completed. And there’s the issue of Rowley’s House and the Music Hall.”

Mr Morgan added that the study would still go ahead next year, despite the delay.

Bulldozing the Quarry Leisure Centre and building a smaller pool in its place is one of three options being considered by the borough council.

Other alternatives are to revamp the current leisure centre or to build a new pool on a different site.

The major public consultation was planned to spell out the pros and cons of each proposal.

Council chiefs believe a completely new pool at the Quarry site would have lower running costs and would offer good competition facilities.

Building a smaller centre would also free up land for more spaces in the pool’s cramped car park.

But a report earlier this year warned this would require all the pools at the centre to be shut for a “significant period.”

By Tom Warren

Have you been affected? What are your views? Email us here

Your comments: “I reside in Kent now, but spent all my child and young adult life in Shrewsbury. I learnt to swim in the swimming pool complex as it is now. The small learners pool was a godsend for a nervous youngster in water. If it is redeveloped, the trend towards large “leisure” pools should be avoided if they mean the loss of smaller learning pools.” John Duffy, Tunbridge Wells