A NEW swimming pool at Newport's Spytty sports village could cause traffic congestion, say neighbouring businesses.

Newport planning committee approved the plans for a £5m regional pool with 25m lanes yesterday.

But councillors also heard how surrounding businesses were worried extra traffic would surge to the flagship 'sports village' and pool, attracting more pedestrians and children to a congested area.

Councillor David Atwell supported the concerns, and said: "The road off the Spytty Road into the site is awfully narrow. We need to be mindful of those complaining about congestion.

"The highways department might consider some extra roads to the site, or widening of existing ones."

And Councillor Peter McKim said: "Look at the Big W store in Maesglas for a similar example of congestion.

"The entrance and exit into that development is extremely poor." A highways spokesman said such situations were a "balancing act" between providing an entrance wide enough for cars that pedestrians could still cross safely.

The 25m-by-17m, eight- lane, short-course pool will be supported by a 20m teaching pool, 500 tiered seats for spectators and unisex, cubicled changing-rooms.

Work could start next year on the site of existing tennis courts, which are due to be relocated, and will complement the £7m velodrome, which is opening tomorrow.

Peter Williams, development control manager, said the pool would have 186 car-parking spaces, with 18 more for the disabled, and the use of a further 587 spaces at other sports village sites.

He said: "During competitions there is the potential for a significant amount of traffic on the site."

But competitions at the sports village would be rotated so that spare parking at other facilities could be used, he said.

He said any traffic problems would be eased by the opening of the Southern Distributor Road and peak use of the pool was unlikely to clash with rush-hour traffic.