Campaigners trying to save Peers Sports Centre say they have been given fresh hope that similar facilities could be incorporated into the soon-to-open Oxford Academy.

Although the crumbling sports centre will stay open until September, when Peers School in Littlemore reopens as the Oxford Academy, a question mark hangs over its long-term future.

The likelihood is it will be knocked down, but there are no plans to build a swimming pool in its place. However, the Oxford Mail was told last night about talks between Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council over the possibility of incorporating a pool and squash courts as part of the academy rebuild.

Keeping the centre open until September will allow campaigners more time to lobby academy sponsors to include a swimming pool and squash courts.

Ruth Wilkinson, who heads the Save Peers Sports Centre Campaign, said: "We are delighted the sports centre will be open over the summer holidays. It's in good nick and isn't due to be demolished as part of the academy plans for another two years, so why can't it carry on until then?

"We think the academy needs to think again about keeping a swimming pool and squash facilities on the site. They are aiming to be a centre of sporting excellence and to promote community access - so why not include these well-used amenities in their design plans?

"One of the academy co-sponsors, Oxford Brookes University, already offers a similar refurbished facility at Westminster Sports Centre in Botley. It has a swimming pool, two squash courts, a fitness suite and a sports hall and allows a neighbouring school use of the pool.

"If the Oxford Academy offered something similar in an area with much higher levels of deprivation, it would send a message to people in Rose Hill and Littlemore that it is really committed to supporting the community.

"At the very least, we hope the city council will find money to fund the centre until such time the academy sponsors think again."

Intervention by the city council's Labour and Green groups at last week's budget meeting means the sports centre is safe until September. What happens beyond that depends on who takes control of the council after the elections in May.

City council deputy leader David Rundle said: "The issue is getting the county council and academy sponsors to find other sponsors, in order for there to be leisure facilities which reflect what the community wants."

Labour group leader Bob Price added: "If it's aiming to be a sports academy, there is no reason why it should not have a pool or squash courts."

Last month, the Oxford Mail reported that a three-acre strip of playing field at Peers could be sold to housing developers for as much as £6m to pay for the buildings.