CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save an Oxford swimming pool from demolition have handed a 7,000-name petition to the city council.

The Save Temple Cowley Pools group, which has been working for four years to secure the centre’s future, handed the petition backing its demand, plus a survey of swimmers, to Oxford Lord Mayor John Goddard.

The future of the pool has been the subject of several redevelopment plans since 2006 and next month Oxford City Council will rule on its future.

The two options being considered by the council both involve demolishing the existing facilities.

Under one plan, the pool would be rebuilt on its present Temple Road site.

A second option, favoured by the council in the past, would see the pool rebuilt next to Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre and the Temple Cowley site sold off to help fund the project.

But campaigners said the pool could be given an “eco-refurbishment” and kept open – an option they say would save the council money.

Jane Alexander, one of the group’s leaders, said: “We will continue to fight this decision, which is completely undemocratic.

“The council is simply not listening to the people of East Oxford, who simply do not want their leisure facility closed.”

The group had carried out a survey of pool users as it felt the council’s own leisure survey, due to be completed next month, did not address the issue.

Mrs Alexander said results showed that some users would struggle to get to a pool in Blackbird Leys.

She added: “The council is ignoring the needs of minority groups such as the disabled, those with mental health issues, the elderly, people referred to a local leisure centre by their GP, and the large Muslim community, which makes great use of the women-only Tuesday evenings.

“This lack of democracy is breathtaking.

“We are asking them to take more time, particularly in the current financial climate, to review the decision again and look at the much less expensive option of an eco-refurbishment.”

But councillor Bob Timbs, the executive member for leisure, said refurbishing the pool was not a viable option.

“Taxpayers have to subsidise it by £640,000 per year just to keep it running,” he said. “If we built a new pool that would drop to a £150,000 per year subsidy.”

“Yes, local people want it kept open, but what is best value for the taxpayer and the city?

“That is what needs to be decided and it’s a difficult decision.”

Next week, the council will release its feasibility study into the two options before a decision on the pool’s future is taken on Monday July 12.

The results of the council’s leisure survey will also be looked at as part of the debate.