SOUTHAMPTON City Council is in talks with a community group to reopen a swimming pool under the threat of closure.

Council chiefs have approved plans to plough £1.25m into refurbishing Oaklands Pool at Lordshill, which was shut 14 months ago.

There were calls from community figures and city politicians to reopen the pool, and it had been feared it would remain closed.

Council leader Simon Letts, pictured, has previously told the Daily Echo that he was committed to reopening the pool, and that discussions are ongoing with a community group interested in taking on the running of the facility.

Consultants Capita have told the council that it may take 23 months to reopen the pool – but the Labour chief says he wants the work to be complete within a year and officers have been instructed to work on getting the pool open again within 12 months.

Cllr Jeremy Moulton, deputy leader of the council’s Conservative opposition, says his party will be pressuring the administration to complete the work as soon as possible.

A Conservative motion changing the plans from 23 months to a year, was defeated at a full meeting of the council.

He said: “Twenty-three months is ridiculous – you could do it in a few months.

“We called for an amendment to the plans for it to be completed within a year.

“We’re disappointed it was rejected and we want them to show that they are committed to opening it quickly and that it’s not just a political tactic.”