One of the key figures behind plans to build a multi-million pound sports complex in the south of the island says a new application will be submitted soon.

Designs include a 50-metre swimming pool, indoor running track, gym, and a cafe in fields at King William’s College.

Initial plans were put to the Department of Infrastructure 12 months ago, however, they were stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Castletown commissioner David Parnell says the complex would be used for both leisure and elite competition.

’What we are going to do on that site is build a sports complex, part of which is a swimming pool,’ he said.

’The pool we are planning to build is 50-metre long, but it’s four lanes wide, not 10.

’That is the minimum size pool for international timesetting.

’So currently, if our swimmers want to go to compete - well they can’t at the moment, but when they can - they have to go to the UK to get a qualification time because no pool in the Isle of Man permits that.

’The concept of our complex is not elite sport - although it works for that - it’s for everybody, the whole community.

’The idea of a 50-metre by four-lane space is that you can buoy that off - into three separate sections, and have three things going on at once.

’So you can have pre-school lessons, at the same time as adult swim training, at the same time as disability rehab swimming.’