CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save an Oxford leisure centre from closure vowed to fight on despite a major setback at the High Court.

Oxford City Council wants to shut down Temple Cowley Pools in Temple Road and build a new multi-million-pound pool in Blackbird Leys.

A campaign group fighting the decision went to the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday, hoping to get permission to have a judge review the decision.

But instead, Nigel Gibson’s bid for a judicial review was thrown out.

Mr Gibson had argued the council had not carried out proper consultation on closing the pool.

A second argument was that the council did not consider the impact the pool closure would have on minorities.

Speaking for an hour-and-a-half on behalf of Mr Gibson, barrister Gerry Facenna said the judge would “look in vain” for any evidence the council had consulted properly before making its decision, adding: “This issue raises matters of considerable public interest. The council simply didn’t ask the right questions.”

Ranjit Bhose, speaking on behalf of the council, said: “The council was well aware of the views of the public.”

The case, he said, was “simply unarguable”.

Judge Alice Robinson agreed, and concluded the arguments the campaigners had put forward did not amount to a reason for holding a judicial review.

She added that the decision-making process the council went through was a normal one.

Lindsay Cane, the council’s legal service manager, said the authority would now be seeking costs of £4,000.

Mr Gibson attended with a number of supporters. Speaking after the hearing he said: “We are extremely disappointed by the outcome today.

“The council’s victory, if indeed it is seen as such, is on a technicality rather than on a real challenge.

“We are considering an appeal and in the meantime the campaign continues.”

Yesterday dealt with one of two judicial review bids which has been looming over this development.

Another has been submitted by Blackbird Leys residents who want to see the land the new pool would be built on turned into a town green.

Oxfordshire County Council has thrown it out, but the residents are hoping a judge will back them.

The city council first put forward plans for the Blackbird Leys Swimming Pool in 2010 and they were approved in September of that year.

Part of council plans would involve knocking down Temple Cowley Pools, which the council says is in a poor state of repair, and selling the plot for housing.

City council board member for leisure services Van Coulter said: “This hopefully means we can make some progress.”