STUDENTS in TCD will go to the polls this Thursday to decide if one of the most ambitious sports developments in the city centre, a £8 million sports centre on Pearse Street which is set to include the State's first 50 metre swimming pool, will get the go ahead.

At a meeting of the capitated bodies last week, student representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of a £50 levy on students, to remain in place for five years, which would provide £2 million in funding for the centre. Half of the total cost of the centre will have to be raised through private donations, with £1 million coming from the Higher Education Authority and the remainder to be covered by the student levy.

A further £500,000 raised through the levy will be put towards an artificial playing surface at the university's Santry playing fields. "The union decided that the levy should be supported, so I'm in favour of the levy and the university is in favour of the levy," commented TCD students' union president Fergus Finnegan.

The university authorities are anxious that work should commence on the development as soon as possible, assuming a favourable outcome from Thursday's referendum. The proposed centre would be situated adjacent to Goldsmith Hall, the university's recently opened residential development, which also includes a bar and student society rooms.