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Plans for a new multi-million pound leisure hub serving an inner city community will take a step forward next month with the launch of a public consultation.

Residents of Splott and Tremorfa will be asked what facilities they would like to see at the hub, which will replace Splott Pool and the Star Centre.

The proposal was unveiled by Splott’s Labour councillors in February shortly after it was announced the pool would close to save the council £298,000 a year, sparking protests.

The pool is still proposed for closure in October, but leisure boss Huw Thomas has promised it will stay open while plans for the replacement hub – most likely on the pool site – are developed.

On Thursday, the Labour cabinet will approve the launch of the consultation and preparation of a business case, which will include the requirement for a pool.

The construction cost won’t be known until the business case is presented to the cabinet in September. If given the go-ahead, planning permission and contractors would be sought early next year.

And if all goes to plan, building work would start in July 2014, with an opening date of about May 2015.

According to a cabinet report, initial work has shown that combing a range of existing facilities in the area at the hub would result in sufficient revenue streams to develop the scheme.

Other facilities in the area include Splott Play Centre, Moorland Road Day Centre, East Moors Youth Centre and Splott Park Bowling Greens.

The Star site has the potential to be flattened to make way for housing, with the land transferred to the council’s Housing Revenue Account to release capital to help with funding.

If that happens, the Star’s facilities will be transferred to the hub, which could also potentially provide childcare through the Welsh Government’s Flying Start programme and face-to-face council advice services.

Coun Thomas said the hub would be council-run and likely require an annual subsidy, but cost loss than the pool currently does.

“My discussions with the campaign group have been very encouraging. They recognise the opportunity and they have a desire to make it happen. We now need to find out what exactly the people want in there,” he said.

Councillor Lynda Thorne, cabinet member for communities, added: “Keeping Splott Pool as it is not an option because in a way that is not what the public want. They want something that is better than that. We need to look at how we can add to that service to make it sustainable and affordable.”