CAMPAIGNERS battling to save Banbury's open-air swimming pool and leisure complex from closure have been given a boost by the involvement of an entrepreneur.

Paddy Castledine, who previously ran the successful lido in Lambeth, East London, has been contacted by the Woodgreen Users Group about the possibility of managing the site should it reopen.

Mr Castledine rescued the derelict 1930s Lambeth lido 14 years ago, and is keen to get involved in Banbury.

Mr Castledine said: "You've got to be creative to make it work, but if it did it would be a huge lift to the local community."

"These places were built by the council for the people, but the council has moved on now and these things need more of a micro approach than a macro approach.

"I think the omens are good and I hope the council decides to give the project the go-ahead as I know we could make it financially viable within the next five to 10 years."

Mr Castledine was approached by Glyn Tiller of the Woodgreen Open Air Pool Support Group after he heard about the work he had done at the London lido.

Mr Tiller said: "I was at a meeting of the Victorian Society in London, saw the pool that Paddy was running at the time and heard about how he had got the community involved in the scheme.

"His idea is to get the general public involved in the project, making it something they run rather than the council, is a great idea and one that many people will back."

Early last year, Cherwell District Council announced the permanent closure of the pool, sparking a flood of protests that forced the council to rethink the matter.

At this years budget meeting, Cherwell made £750,000 available for pool repair work and asked its community scrutiny committee to investigate the viability of re-opening the facility.

However, even if the district council does put up the money to renovate the site, Mr Tiller believes the best option would see the site handed over to a community based group to run and feels Mr Castledine is the best man for the job.

He said: "The idea is that once it is up and running, the council will gradually be able to withdraw any involvement it has with the scheme.

"But even if the council aren't in control of the site, they should still be the ones to pay for the renovation. They allowed it to get into the state it is, so they should be the ones to incur the costs."

Andy Dancer, member of the Woodgreen Users Group, is also backing Mr Castledine to take over the site should the financing come through.

He said: "I believe it needs an entrepreneurial management style, rather than a council management team, to get it back on its feet after being closed for so long.

"We have presented Paddy to the council and said, 'here is someone with all the skills you need and the CV to back it up'. But ultimately it is public money they are spending and they need to be comfortable with the decision they are making."

Mr Knight, co-ordinator for the Woodgreen Users Group, said Mr Castledine has the proven track record to ensure the project is a success and the contacts to bring in funding in the future.

He said: "He is very well connected within the world of sport, with contacts at Sports England and the Olympic Committee, which will help us bring in sponsorship and backing should it come to that point."

A spokesman for Cherwell District Council said it was too early to comment on proposal for Mr Castledine to take on the site.

A spokesman for the council said: "On 18th September, the Select Committee will meet to consider an evidence based report from the Task and Finish panel, looking at the future of Woodgreen.

"After the meeting on 18th, the Select Committee will submit recommendations the the Executive. The executive is due to discuss Wood Green on 1st October."