A POLITICAL row has broken out over the future of a children's swimming pool.

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond has promised to reconsider his decision to close the 1960s-built Rossmere Swimming Pool, used to teach generations of Hartlepool schoolchildren to swim.

The mayor made his original decision when he was told by officers that it would cost Hartlepool Borough Council £450,000 to refurbish.

He reiterated a promise to reconsider at a packed public meeting in the town's Civic Centre after "extra information" about costs came to light.

It has been claimed that, in fact, only £9,570 is needed to keep the pool open until Christmas. But concern has now been expressed about the way Mr Drummond made the original decision and a call has been made for a public investigation.

At the public meeting, Rossmere Labour councillor Mick Johnson called for the speedy re-opening of the pool.

He said: "The issue should refer the issue to scrutiny councillors in order to allow a public investigation of the way in which the decision was made, the cost of fully refurbishing the pool and the cost of replacing the existing pool on the same site."

He was backed up by fellow Labour councillor Marjorie Richardson, who criticised the Independent mayor.

She said: "The mayor took this decision without consulting anyone who might be affected. I have seen papers that show that by the time Mayor Drummond met parents at Rossmere Pool, he had already taken the decision to close it.

"This is not consultation and there is a serious issue of legality here that could amount to maladministration."

Mayor Drummond hit back, saying: "It is quite sad that certain councillors are using this issue to try to score political points.

"Rossmere Pool has been left to go to rack and ruin by previous administrations of the council who have spent virtually nothing on its upkeep.

"These same people are now trying to make me out to be the bad guy just before the mayoral election.

"For some councillors to suggest that there has been maladministration, or that I had taken my decision before any public meeting, is utter rubbish and simply just lies."

A final decision about the pool's future is expected to be made on Thursday, February 24.