Ceiling tiles crashing into the pool, lengthy closures due to boiler problems, and squalid conditions in the changing rooms could all be a thing of the past for Merton’s swimmers after the council pledged £11m to replace Morden Park Pool.

The facility, crumbling into disrepair, has left residents despairing over the past few years.

But now Merton Council has vowed to find £11m for the project in its latest business plan. The cash is earmarked to come from the public purse, although some private investment to fund the scheme has not been ruled out.

St Helier ward councillor Maxi Martin said: “This is a real victory for everyone who has called for a new swimming pool. We’re all absolutely over the moon.

“The current pool has deteriorated beyond belief and up until now the council’s approach had been to patch it up and do little more than spray a bit of Mr Muscle in the corner.”

Merton Council’s leader, David Williams, said: “The current pool is just beyond economic repair and if something else were to happen to it tomorrow we’d have to think really hard about whether or not it could ever reopen. it’s teetering on the edge and we have to hope it will last another three of four years.

“But we’re now in a position where we can put our money where our mouth is and commit to a new pool. It would have been irresponsible for us to have made a decision earlier. This project underlines our commitment to the regeneration of Morden.”

The project is at its first stages and finer details of the leisure centre’s design have yet to be drawn up.

It has also not been decided if the current pool will be demolished before a replacement is built.

A public consultation will have to be conducted and, according to Coun Williams, a new pool is unlikely to be built before 2014.

Harry Green, head coach of Merton Pisces swimming club, said: “Merton hasn’t been that focused on sport in the past but this will generate more interest in swimming.

“I just hope the current pool can stay open while the new one is being built. I also hope it won’t be more expensive to use and that we can maintain the same swimming times.”