FURIOUS campaigners have hit out at Oxford City Council for starting building work on a pool at Blackbird Leys Park before a decision has been reached on its Town Green status.

A group of 14 estate residents opposing the city council’s plans to build a £9.2m swimming pool on the Pegasus Road park submitted an application to turn the park into a protected Town Green in a bid to delay work and ultimately scupper the project.

Despite a decision pending from Oxfordshire County Council contractors have already begun work at the park.

A spokesman for the city council said: “We are carrying out some preliminary work at the Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre site which will have no long-term effect on the playing field.

“We have not heard of any final decision regarding the Town Green application.

“However, this work will speed the process up of starting work on the site, if we do get the go-ahead.”

Town Green campaigner William Clark criticised the city council’s action.

He said: “To be perfectly honest it’s very much a smack in the teeth.

“They are undertaking work which should be held up pending the outcome of this application.

“It’s virtually a two finger gesture meaning ‘we don’t care about your application, we are going to bulldoze regardless’.

“I’m upset and dismayed.”

Independent Working Class Association councillor Stuart Craft said: “I’m not happy about it.

“I think it’s a kick in the teeth to local residents who are already concerned that the Labour administration aren’t listening to them.

“This could be thousands of pounds of tax payers’ money down the drain if the Town Green status goes through.”

If the pool is built in Blackbird Leys Park it will almost certainly seal the fate of Temple Cowley pools which are earmarked for closure, supporters fear.

Jane Alexander, who is lobbying to keep the Temple Road pool open, said: “I think it’s incredibly arrogant of them and probably stupid because if the town green status is approved they will waste more money.”

Commenting on the cost of preliminary work on gas pipes at the site a spokesman for the city council, said: “The cost of the work is approximately £25,000 and is part of a £9.23m pound project.

“The works can take up to eight weeks from order to delivery, which would hold up the main contract, so we have taken the decision to proceed with the work now based on legal advice that the Town Green application will be unsuccessful.”

No date has yet been set for a decision on the application.