CAMPAIGNERS who have fought for a swimming pool for almost 30 years have accused councillors of letting local people down by refusing to fund it.

In its latest bid to secure a pool for Seaham, the Seaham Environmental Association (Sea) discussed the issue with Easington District Council.

The meeting followed a long period of correspondence in which Sea put forward its arguments in favour of the pool.

It claims Seaham is the only local area of its size without such a facility, that its need is greater than most because of the area's poor health record, that the sea is unsuitable for swimming in and that a pool would reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

The group also believes that the town's history of swimming, in which an international pool at Dawdon attracted world-class divers, should not be lost.

But while accepting that there was a "strong argument" for a pool in Seaham, the council said it simply could not afford to establish one.

Chief executive Paul Wilding referred to the high levels of subsidy already being paid to leisure services, and highlighted the authority's recent transferral of Seaham and Peterlee Leisure Centres to Leisure Connections, leading to better facilities.

He also said the Primary Care Trust, which Sea had hoped might contribute to a pool after receiving extra funding, had declined to do so.

Mr Wilding said: "If another way could be identified to provide facilities other then direct provision by the council, this will receive full and fair consideration."

He offered Sea help in applying for National Lottery and other grants.

But the group's secretary, Norman Border, said this was not enough.

"The local authority should be applying for funding," he said.

"We are only a small organisation staffed by volunteers, and they have staff whose sole job it is to find funding.

"If we are not getting a pool, we are being let down."

Mr Border said that despite the latest disappointment, the group would continue its campaign.

"We will try anything, but at the end of the day, we are not big enough to take on the responsibility of a swimming pool."