MEETING campaigners trying to keep Temple Cowley Pools open, would be a “waste of time”, a council chief has proclaimed.

Temple Cowley Pools campaigner Nigel Gibson urged Oxford City Council members to host meetings to “discuss, identify and clarify areas of common understanding”.

A petition with 1,756 signatures backing his call was discussed at a full council meeting on Monday.

The Labour-run council wants to replace the Temple Road pools with a new £8.5m complex in Blackbird Leys Park.

But it is on hold after campaigners won High Court permission for a judicial review. They hope the land will get protected town green status.

Executive board member for leisure services Van Coulter said the authority had repeatedly supplied requested information.

But Liberal Democrat David Rundle said: “I don’t see why you should be frightened of sitting down with the campaign if you feel you have all the information actively at your fingertips.

“You owe it not to the leaders of the campaign but to the hundreds and thousands of people who have signed the petition.”

But Mr Coulter said officers had had “discussion upon discussion” to answer queries about the plan, approved in 2011.

He said: “I’m not afraid of anything. I just don’t want to waste any more time.”