Nearly 1,000 people have signed a petition to save leisure facilities including a swimming pool which are due to close later this year.

Oxford Brookes University announced earlier this year that the swimming pool and its sauna and steam room facilities at Harcourt Hill from September 1.

It comes as the university is set to leave the Harcourt Campus in 2025 so it can bring all university activities in Oxford onto the Headington Campus.

The other facilities at the Harcourt Campus site are due to stay open until the university leaves the site.

The university said the swimming pool is at an “end-of-life stage” and it is at risk of “failing without significant work taking place”.

An Oxford Brookes University statement said: “As part of its Oxford Campus Vision, the University announced in October 2022 it would bring together all Oxford-based activities on the Headington Campus over the coming years

An independent report has confirmed that maintenance costs of more than half a million pounds are required to allow the swimming pool, which already runs at a significant operating loss, to operate in future years.

"Due to inflationary increases since the report was commissioned, the cost of implementing this necessary maintenance work would now be significantly higher.

"Unfortunately this is not viable.”

However, a petition has described the swimming pool as an “important amenity for Botley and children from 12 primary schools learn to swim here.” 

It calls on Oxford Brookes University and the Vale of White Horse District Council to reconsider the planned closure of the Harcourt Hill pool, develop a short-term plan for continued use, and work with the community and the site owners on a long-term solution. 

The petition added: “Our community is at great risk of losing these facilities completely if we don't act now.

“Please make your voice heard. Please sign our petition.”

When announcing the closure, the University in addition to liaising with organisations who use the swimming pool and will write to all members to provide information on what this means for their membership. 

A spokesperson for Vale of White Horse District Council said: "The Swimming Pool at Harcourt Hill is solely owned and operated by Oxford Brookes University, and it is entirely the university's decision to close it. Vale of White Horse District Council had no involvement in this.  

"We recently ran a public consultation on our forthcoming Leisure and Playing Pitch Strategy, so while we analyse the responses to the consultation, we will also review any implications of the university's decision has on the leisure needs of Vale residents."

At the time of writing the petition has more than 900 signatures.