PEERS sports centre will close its doors to the public on January 1 despite an eleventh hour plea for a stay of execution.

Users urged Oxford City Council to keep the centre and its swimming pool open until September 2008, when the buildings will be demolished part of plans for a city academy on the site.

But that plea was rejected and the council's executive board agreed to pull out of its deal leasing and running the county council centre on New Year's Day.

Users who attended the meeting were told that keeping the centre open until September would cost the council an extra £200,000.

Council leader John Goddard said he understood the concerns of residents but added: "The position is quite clear. There is no long term future for facilities at this site because of the academy.

"The uncomfortable truth is the leisure part of the city council is living beyond its means and it has to reduce its expenses.

"It is partly about cost, I don't deny that."

But centre user Ruth Wilkinson said: "I don't understand why a highly deprived area like Rose Hill should suffer the cuts of the entire city.

"You mention alternative facilities but there's no public transport and people in Rose Hill don't have the money to run cars."

Council officers have been asked to explore the possibility of shuttle buses and giving Peers users priority booking at other city-owned facilities.

New facilities, as part of the city academy plans, are set to be opened in 2010 but at present there is no plan for a swimming pool.