With Teville Gate having already been ruled out because leasing it from the developers would have been too expensive, west Worthing residents still had some hope that the Aquarena replacement would be on their doorsteps.

But meetings of key councillors on Monday, February 4, ruled out this option.

Which leaves us with their two preferred options on land west of the Aquarena, and one of those sites is Denton Gardens.

I expect there are plenty of objectors to this idea, including me, who see this walled haven as a vital seafront "lung" which has provided pleasure to generations of Worthing townsfolk since it was opened in 1924.

Siting the new pool next to the Aquarena is fine by me, and it's about time that the Teville Gate pool saga has finally been chopped after being stretched out for nearly three years.

I was never wholly convinced that this was the ideal site for the pool, even though it was bang next to Worthing central station.

Most of the pool's customers would still have been tempted to turn up in cars, and their parking demands would have been added to those attending the planned multi-screen cinema, tenpin bowling centre, bingo club, shops and restaurants, and the 600-space basement car park would have to accommodate all this demand in addition to that emanating from the 250 new homes.

We know that nearby residents are fearful, anyway, that parking spaces outside their homes will be swamped by people visiting the new Teville Gate... now here's a case where the town's new parking attendants will be really welcome, to keep residents' parking slots free for those entitled to them.

Although the Aquarena will remain open while the new pool is being built, there is doubt about the short-term viability of the children's outdoor paddling pool if the chosen site is bang next door. I'm told that such a facility is included for the future.

But this could mean, "legal factors permitting", that the much-loved Peter Pan's playground could be swallowed up in such development.

Still, it's early days yet on the planning front, and I hope the kids don't lose out on this one. And it's not just families which have to be considered.

That open grassed area south of Beach House is used by all sections of the community, and it would be a shame if too much of it is taken out for more-structured redevelopment.

As it seems the present Aquarena site is going to be sold to private developers, don't hold your breath for too long in the hope that much of this land will be open for public enjoyment once the transfer takes place. But we can always hope...