THE Lord Mayor of Oxford has called for cuts to keep Peers Sports Centre open until next August.

The centre and swimming pool, owned by Oxfordshire County Council and run by Oxford City Council, is due to be demolished in September as part of plans to turn Peers School into a new city academy.

The city council plans to pull out on January 1, saving £65,000 this financial year and £300,000 each year there after. But that has sparked a fierce reaction from centre users - and it now appears unlikely Peers School would be able to keep the swimming pool open for its pupils.

Finance chiefs have said up to £215,000 would have to be found to keep the centre open until August.

But Lord Mayor John Tanner, who represents Littlemoor ward, said the council should look for savings elsewhere to keep the Peers centre open beyond January.

He said: "If we look at where the greatest subsidies are - Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre and Hinksey Pool - maybe we should look at pulling some of the cost of these institutions in order to keep Peers open.

"Reducing staff posts across Leisure, I think is something that should be considered, and the capital cost of installing pool covers, perhaps that could be postponed."

He said that if the centre could not remain open for public use, the council should at least have guarantees that school students would not suffer.

He added: "I don't care if it's the county council or the Academy or Uncle Tom Cobley who pays for it, we should not damage the education of children in school this year."

City executive member for leisure David Rundle said he would be happy to investigate any suggested savings.

And he agreed investment was needed in city council-owned leisure facilities.

But he said he would be surprised if savings to keep Peers Sports Centre open could be found.

A final decision will be made by the executive board on December 3.