CHILDREN across the country are writing their Christmas present letters to Santa Claus.

Most will be asking for the latest toys, video games, dolls or action figures.

But for one Headington girl, all she wants is Temple Cowley Pools to stay open.

Ellie Meikle, 11, is one of 100 people who have written to Santa Claus asking him to save the city council swimming pool.

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Her letter is one of hundreds to be presented to councillors today as they decide the pools’ future.

Ellie, a pupil at Cheney School in Headington, said: “Temple Cowley is where I learnt to swim and I want other people to have the same opportunity as me.

“Hopefully Santa can grant that wish.”

Ellie’s 42-year-old mother Julie said: “We’ve used the pool for swimming lessons, children’s parties and recreational swimming. It’s a lovely pool and it would be a real shame to see it go.”

The 100 letters to Father Christmas were collected by Save Temple Cowley Pool activist Jane Alexander.

The 59-year-old Headington resident said: “We set up a stall at the Green Fair in Oxford Town Hall last Sunday and people were queuing to support us.

“It’s amazing the response we’ve received.

“This is on top of the 400 letters, 500 emails and the 25,000 signatures that we’ve received in support of the campaign.”

The letters will be presented to the city council’s executive board tomorrow at a meeting where the fate of the pool will be decided.

Activists hope councillors will vote in favour of the campaigners’ bid to lease the pool to keep it open.

The proposal would keep the swimming pool open as well as adding a community centre and 17 social houses.

Councillors will be deciding between the Save Temple Cowley Pools proposal and a £3.5m bid by developers Catalyst Housing to build 47 homes on the site. The charitable housing association told the Oxford Mail previously that more than half of these would be affordable and the scheme would help tackle the city’s housing crisis.

The city council, which is opening a new pool at Blackbird Leys in the new year, said it can no longer afford to maintain the Temple Cowley pool building.

Spokesman Chofamba Sithole said: “A full decision and explanation will be made at today’s executive board meeting.”

The meeting starts at 5.30pm at the Town Hall in St Aldate’s and is open to the public.

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