Protest as pool closes for good

The council says it cannot afford to keep the pool open

Families are holding a demonstration at a swimming pool in Lancashire which is closing for the final time.

Fylde Borough Council confirmed plans to shut St Annes baths in March, although the threatened pool at Kirkham was given a reprieve.

The authority says it cannot afford the £930,000 every year it costs to operate the facilities.

It said it was open to the idea of the pool reopening in the future if a suitable investor comes forward.

Despite the offer, the authority said no financially viable offer had been made and that swimming was suffering from a "national decline in popularity".

Councillor Simon Renwick, cabinet member for culture and tourism, said: "We are leaving no stone unturned to find a cost effective way of providing a swimming service for the future in Fylde.

"We will work with any suitable organisation that can demonstrate that it can run the pool effectively."

Mr Renwick said no company was prepared to take on the running of the pool without a large council subsidy, which the authority could not afford.

"The solutions we are exploring need to be sustainable and cannot expose the council to greater financial risk."