In March, East Northamptonshire Council and Rushden Town Council revealed they intended to build a new sports complex at Manor Park in Rushden to replace the town's swimming pool in Duck Street and leisure centre in HE Bates Way.

Now town council leader Colin Wright has said the councils have not ruled out considering other pieces of land in the town to make sure they get the best site for the new complex.

He said: "Some people feel Manor Park is a good place for the new sports complex and others think it should be in the town centre.

"The town council owns Manor Park so it would make sense to use that land but East Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire County Council also owns land which could be used.

"We need to look at the available sites and see which is best so we can ensure the regeneration goes ahead despite the current financial situation."

The town's regeneration will happen in different stages.

The first stage will focus on the High Street and will include projects such as the introduction of new street furniture and the removal of the old bricked-up planters.

Long-term plans could include the pedestrianisation of the High Street but Cllr Wright was keen to stress the earlier projects will be designed to blend in with later work so money which is being spent now will not be wasted.

When the new sports complex proposals were first put forward this year it was estimated it would cost in the region of £10m.

Its creation is partly designed to enable the redevelopment of the sites currently used by Splash Pool and the Pemberton Centre.

Earlier regeneration proposals put forward in the 2005 Rushden master plan suggested if Alfred Street Junior School moved, the John Street car park could be the location for a wet and dry leisure facility to replace the pool and the leisure centre.

Plans to close the Newton Road recycling depot by the end of July 2011 to free up the site for new homes, offices and improved car parking were approved last year.

Rushden's Chamber of Trade chairman John Wills said: "Rushden's regeneration has been talked about for many years but I believe it is about to happen.

"Although the credit crunch is hitting the headlines now, this is a long-term project and it will continue."