CLOSING the Water Place swimming complex will have a detrimental knock-on effect on Bolton town centre, according to the councillor who is presiding over its future.

Bolton's £5 million town centre swimming pool is sure to lose potential revenue from tourists who would also visit shops, restaurants and bars.

And Cllr Laurie Williamson, Bolton's executive member for culture, admitted the closure "cannot be a good thing."

The report into the swimming complex says 40 per cent of people visiting the Water Place from outside town went for something to eat or drink in Bolton. A further 27pc went shopping.

Similar figures were gained from Bolton residents who visited the Water Place: 34pc ate or drank in the town and 34pc went shopping following a swim.

So with 230,000 visiting the sports complex each year, there is a potential loss of about 85,000 trips into the town for something other than swimming.

But Cllr Williamson said steps would be taken to develop other attractions.

"We hope we can bring a new pool to Bolton and a wide range of attractive leisure facilities," he added.

The Water Place looks almost certain to close on October 27. There will be a full council meeting on October 16 to approve a recommendation to shut the pool and then bulldoze the building.

It will cost an estimated £4.5 million to maintain, repair and modernise the building and the Council says it cannot afford to pay.

Over the past few years visitor numbers have slumped and maintenance bills have risen.

It has never made a profit in 14 years of operation.