A CAMPAIGN to save Guisborough swimming pool is to be launched.

The pool has been earmarked for closure under proposals by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council as part of its budget cuts, although it has yet to be agreed by councillors.

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, will launch a Hands Off Our Swimming Pool campaign on Friday at a rally outside the pool, in Howlbeck Road, at 10.30am and a petition will be launched.

The council says the swimming pool building, which it owns, is in a bad condition.

But Mr Kumar believes there is strong support for the pool among the 17,485 people of Guisborough.

"The pool is well patronised and there are many local groups who use it day in, day out," he said.

"The news that the pool could now, out-of-the blue, be threatened with closure, will utterly inflame local opinion.

"I, and other pool users, have been fighting for a long time to get funds to make the pool fit and proper for the new century. This week we have arranged a meeting in February with Sports Minister Richard Caborn to look at funding strategies."

The council's deputy chairman, Dave Fitzpatrick, said: "The pool is in a disgraceful condition. The filters need changing as they may fail soon, which would mean the pool would be closed for months for repair. It would need £500,000 to bring it up to standard.

"We have been told by independent consultants and Sport England that we have too many pools in the borough and that it would be better to centralise, by having one main pool.

"The decision will not be based on the saving of around £120,000 running costs. It will be based on health and safety issues and common sense.