ONE of the biggest issues in Oxford has just got a whole lot more contentious.

Until now, the row about turning Blackbird Leys Park into a Town Green has been mainly confined to people for and against the proposed swimming pool at the park’s leisure centre.

Supporters of Temple Cowley Pools – which would close as a result – have also waded in to have their say on the issue.

But suddenly the row is impacting on hundreds more people with no political axe to grind.

Young footballers from the Oxford Blackbirds have good cause to fear the Town Green application will scupper their activities.

In this time of tight finances, when funding for youth facilities is being cut back, we need to fight for all the existing clubs and societies we currently have.

The bottom line is Oxford is being offered a new, state-of-the-art swimming pool.

Yes, there may be a few casualties arising from the plans – scuffles about parking, proximity to other houses and the building’s design.

But the bigger picture is city residents are being offered a multi-million-pound brand new pool in a time of devastating cutbacks to other community projects.

Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth.