A BID to register land in Blackbird Leys as a town green to thwart controversial Oxford swimming pool plans must be refused, a council report says.

The Oxfordshire County Council report says residents have no legal right to register part of Blackbird Leys Park in Pegasus Road as a protected town green.

If successful, the town green bid would scupper plans to close Temple Cowley Pools to help pay for a £9.2m swimming complex on the park.

County council members will make a decision on Monday.

Pegasus Road resident William Clark argued the land can legally be made a town green as it has been used for recreation for at least 20 years.

But the council says the law exempts land held for recreational use by a local authority.

Mr Clark said he was “disappointed but not surprised” by the report’s recommendations, which draws on council legal advice.

He said: “Obviously we will make representations at the meeting. We can only go in and put our case again. We shall have to wait and see what happens.”

He said: “I have lived here for 40 years and over those 40 years they have gradually whittled away that green space that was supposed to be for recreation.

“The fact of the matter is they have not considered infrastructure sufficiently and it would just be a nightmare.”

Oxford City Council, which part-owns the Blackbird Leys site, also objected to the town green bid, along with Blackbird Leys Parish Council.

The new facility had been due to open in September but is on hold because of the town green application and a judicial review on the Temple Cowley Pools plan.

Save Temple Cowley Pools campaigner Nigel Gibson said: “When you look at the evidence, there is absolutely no reason they shouldn’t be granted the application because it has been used for 30, 40 or 50 years for recreation.

“However, we are really focused on saving Temple Cowley Pools through our judicial review.”

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said: “The parish council welcomes the new swimming pool. It would not only be good for the estate but also good for Oxford.”

The planning and regulation committee will consider the application at 2pm at County Hall, New Road, Oxford. The public can attend.

The committee will be asked to allow officers to decide town and village green applications which are submitted by the landowners.