ARCHITECTS showcasing the new plans for Handy Cross sports centre said there has been a positive response so far.

The exhibition of design plans for the new centre opened on Monday and are available to view in the sports centre reception.

Joanna Doherty from S&P Architects said yesterday: "It was busy last night. We had a really good response.

"People seemed to like the look of the elevations.

"We were pleased it was so positive."

She said people said they were looking forward to it and liked the facilities on offer in the plans.

An extensive consultation has been carried out to get to this stage and planners hope building would start next year, with it being finished by 2015.

Reg Horne, a regular swimmer, who looked at the plans said: "I think it is long overdue.

"This would have been much higher on my priorities compared to some of the other things the council has done over the years.

"But I don't want to be critical. As long as they are doing it now it is alright."

He said he thought the plans looked really good.

A regular swimming pool user who did not wish to be named said she was pleased to see there would still be a 50m pool.

She said: "It would have been a shame to abandon a 50m pool for something else when we are one of the few that have it."

The proposed new sports and leisure centre is the first phase of long-term master plan for the Handy Cross site and the surrounding area.

As part of the redevelopment of the site and the need to keep the current sports centre open while the new one is built, both the synthetic turf pitch and running track will be relocated.

Richard Monksmith, building services consultant, said the sustainability of the plans is very important to the council.

He said they are looking at putting a biomass boiler from wood chippings in to provide some of the heating, solar panels on the roof for some of the electricity and a combined heating power engine which generates heat and electricity.

During the week, members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions about the plans from 9:30am to 2pm on Friday, December 7 and 9:30am to 11:30am on Saturday, December 8.

The display material can also be viewed at www.wycombe.gov.uk.