CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to continue fighting proposals to develop the former Temple Cowley Pools site after housing plans were unveiled.

Housing association Catalyst revealed further details of its plans to build a mix of 48 flats and houses on the site at a public exhibition on Friday.

It comes after Oxford City Council agreed to sell the facility, which closed last December, to the housing association for £3.5m if planning permission is granted.

Director of the Save Temple Cowley Pools campaign group Nigel Gibson said members will continue to lobby Catalyst to run the site as a leisure centre, despite the council rejecting its bid for the facility.

He added: “It’s all very well building new homes for people, but where are the facilities that go alongside that? This area has been the fastest growing in population in the last 10, 15 years in Oxford and it’s having facilities taken away bit by bit.

“We see no reason why the council closed Temple Cowley Pools in December. Nothing has happened. Why did they not keep it open for another six months?”

Catalyst told visitors at its public exhibition that 24 of the homes it hopes to build will be affordable, with 19 for social rent and five shared ownership.

Plans also include a new green space near neighbouring Cowley Library, as well as a new access road, parking for 48 cars and three spaces for library visitors.

The housing association has not yet submitted its planning application but is looking to start construction in July 2016, with work taking about 22 months to complete.

Members of the Save TCP group also displayed their plans for the site outside the exhibition, telling visitors they still hope to save the leisure centre, rebuild changing rooms and construct housing above and around the facility.

Mr Gibson said he wanted to meet with Catalyst to discuss plans to work together to transform the site.

He added: “The people we have spoken to are already devastated that they can’t regularly use Temple Cowley Pools. It’s just a disaster for them.”

Fellow Save TCP campaigner Jane Alexander added: “We are the public. It’s our facility. It’s our future.

“There are people who have not swam since last December. There are no facilities that match Temple Cowley Pools. I am meeting people all the time who have not had any exercise since it closed.”

Catalyst director of development Julia Moulder said its proposals would help tackle the city’s housing crisis and bring affordable homes to the area.

She added: “Oxford is in the midst of a housing crisis with average property prices far outstripping local salaries. Catalyst’s proposals for Temple Cowley will build 48 much-needed homes, half of which will be affordable, enabling more local people to live in the area.”

See chg.org.uk/templecowley