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Councillor Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at Harrogate Borough Council.
Councillor Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said claims that the council had made up its own mind on where to build the facility were wrong and have caused "confusion".
The town's existing swimming pool site on King James Road has been chosen as the location for the new facility but councillor Lumley said "word had got around" that Conyngham Hall - a historic estate near the River Nidd - was the council's preferred option.
He insisted this was not the case, however, councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the local Liberal Democrats, said she believes the council had a "very serious eye" on Conyngham Hall.