WE WILL all be in mourning for Peers Sports Centre.

It has served generations of Peers students and local residents.

Mike Reading, the principal of the new academy, has made it clear that the academy would not be able to afford to replace the swimming pool when the school is rebuilt.

The financial situation at Oxford City Council – with a tiny government grant increase and the credit crunch – is worse than I have known it in 18 years.

We have had little option but to withdraw the money allocated for 2009/10, given that the pool would close next year in any case.

I apologise to the people of Littlemore for the way things have turned out. It is not at all what I wanted.

But we Labour councillors have decided to spend money on improving playgrounds and paying for pensioner bus fares rather than keeping Peers pool open.

The city council has tasked our leisure staff with finding decent alternatives for all users.

In a couple of years there will be brand new sports facilities (but not a pool) for students and the public at Peers Academy, and hopefully, in a few years, a new pool in Blackbird Leys.

Like everyone else, I am devastated by the decision to close Peers pool.

I’m glad we campaigned. And we did save the pool – but tragically not for long enough.

JOHN TANNER, Oxford City Councillor, Sunningwell Road, Oxford