CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Temple Cowley Pools have demanded the closure plans are stopped.

More than 100 people attended a public meeting on the pool’s future at Oxford Town Hall on Tuesday and the majority called for it to remain open.

But city swimming clubs and city council leisure chiefs both backplans to build a new £16.8m complex at Blackbird Leys.

The other two options proposed by the council were to refurbish the pools at an overall cost of £24.2 million or knock it down and rebuild on the same site, again at a cost of £24 million.

The Leys option is the best value according to council officers. It would mean the demolition of Temple Cowley Pools and the site sold for an estimated £1.5m to help fund the new swimming complex.

A final decision will be made by the executive board in 12 days and if approved the new pool could be open by autumn 2012.

But Temple Cowley Pools users disputed the cost of refurbishing the Temple Road complex and said thousands of swimmers would be unable to make the journey to Blackbird Leys.

Rose Hill resident Peter Wilkinson said: “This is a pool for the whole of Oxford and should be accessible to everyone. The obvious location is near Cowley Centre which is a bus hub.”

Nigel Gibson, from the Save Temple Cowley Pools campaign, told the meeting: “The council will invest our money in this pool (at Blackbird Leys). What happens if people don’t go?”

Campaigners have drawn up refurbishment plans costing £3m, but the council says refurbishment would cost £24.2m over 25 years.

It also said savings would come from shared services with Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre and the sale of the Temple Cowley site.

Cowley residents quizzed council chiefs about the possible future use of the site if it was sold.

Director of City Services, Tim Sadler told the meeting rumours of student accommodation were speculation at this stage, and any future development would require planning permission.

City swimming clubs have welcomed the proposed new pool.

Ian Smith, of the City of Oxford Swimming Club, said: “If we rebuild or refurbish at Temple Cowley it will be out of action for two years and we cannot keep going like that.

“The Blackbird Leys option meets the requirements.

“It is necessary for us.”