THE long-awaited redevelopment of Scarborough's once prime holiday attraction, the South Bay Pool complex, is due to go ahead following a decision by councillors to earmark £400,000 towards the £1.4m scheme.

Chief executive John Trebble told the cabinet that other funding was likely to come from the European Union's regional aid scheme and Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.

The large outdoor pool, which in its heyday attracted thousands of people because of its size and diving facilities, is to be filled in with rubble from the demolished St Mary's Hospital and former council houses at Edgehill Estate.

A ramp is to be built on the beach side of the sea wall along the pool to enable lorries to get access to fill in the pool in a scheme which is likely to start next month and take 28 weeks to complete.

The pool site will be landscaped and a new area made for holidaymaking families.

But the loss of the pool is being opposed by conservationists led by Diana Tasker of Weaponness Valley Close.

She said the scheme was "potentially dangerous and impractical" claiming that the area was an important sea defence.

Filling in the pool would mean that waves from the sea would be hitting a continuous landside, causing reverbation and exacerbating cliff instability.

"The subsequent cost of rectifying the damage could be phenomenal," said Miss Tasker in a letter to councillors.

But Councillor Eileen Bosomworth, leader of the council, said: "We are not taking away a sea defence.

"The council could not possibly justify the vast amount of money which would be needed to restore the pool.

"Something has got to be done with the area. It is in a dangerous state and a health and safety hazard."