CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a community swimming pool used by hundreds of children and disabled people in Hampshire have failed to lift a controversial closure threat.

They walked out of a meeting disappointed after hearing under-fire Southampton City Council has put off a decision over its fate until the autumn.

The Frank Johnson pool in Bassett faces being shut down despite strong public opposition after running up a repair bill estimated at £150,000 over three years.

Councillors voted for a stay of execution pending investigations into community or private leasing of the pool, which civic chiefs say they cannot afford to maintain.

But an opposition amendment to remove the closure option, prompted by widespread community concern, was thrown out.

Veronica Radford, who has led a users' action group, attacked the council's handling of the pool, saying the closure recommendation was at odds with its strategic policy on swimming.

She said the council's lottery bid to open the new £10 million Quays pool at West Quay in Southampton depended on sustaining smaller pools such as the Frank Johnson.

Mrs Radford's comments were echoed by Liberal Democrat councillor Virginia Moore.

She said: "If we take this pool away it will damage many people's social fabric. We should be working in partnership with community groups. We can turn this around if the political will is there."

The council-owned pool is used by four schools and 27 community bodies including a group of Asian women, but education chiefs say the repair bills is beyond their budget. The closure threat was originally exposed by a Daily Echo investigation into a raft of secret cuts being considered by the council.

Blind swimmer Jim Horrocks said disabled people swam at the pool because of its simple layout, above average water temperature, and hoist. "There is no other pool in Southampton that matches it," he said.

Jacki Wilson, headteacher of the nearby Vermont School, which has a number of pupils with behaviour problems, said: "To be deprived of the pool would be catastrophic for us. This is one of the very few opportunities to get out of the school building and mix."

Councillor June Bridle, who chairs the education and employment committee, and who is also the new leader of the City Council, told yesterday's meeting that the status quo was not an option but she would seek clarification on the pos-sibility of retaining council control of the pool in the future.

She gave an assurance groups would be able to continue booking sessions at the pool after the half term holiday.

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