THE campaign to save Temple Cowley Pools suffered a fatal body blow tonight as councillors backed a decision to tear down the Cowley facility.

Labour-controlled Oxford City Council is planning a new £16.8m complex next to Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre after its executive board earlier this month backed plans to demolish Temple Cowley Pools.

Tonight, a value and performance scrutiny committee of 12 councillors looked at the city’s plan and backed it, deciding against sending it back to the executive to look at the whole project again.