A CAMPAIGN to get a better swimming pool is gathering pace in Guisborough.

A high-profile meeting has been set up to consider a funding bid, and more than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for either a radical upgrade or a completely new pool.

Local MP, Dr Ashok Kumar, is backing the campaign and will be at the meeting on February 7. At the end of next month, he will officially receive the petition and present it to the House of Commons.

The move is being organised by Guisborough amateur swimming club whose secretary, Mrs Susan Johnson, said members had spent the last two weekends collecting signatures in the town centre.

"People can't believe that Guisborough, with the size it is and new building going on, has such poor facilities," she said. "We have nothing for the youngsters and there is a lot of anger in the town about this. People are really very cross."

Mrs Johnson said so far the state of the pool had not affected club membership. "But we need better facilities for training and competitions.

Also, the whole pool has to be closed when we use it and that can cause resentment among non-members," she said.

"We want a new pool. We travel around a lot for events and it is embarrassing when we invite other teams here. We are ashamed at the state of the pool. It is very shoddy."

Dr Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, got involved in the campaign after he attended the club's annual championships last year. At the time. he feared young people might be put off swimming because of the condition of the pool.

This week he said: "The present pool is just about holding on. Next month's meeting is just the first step and we will build from there. I would not have become involved if I did not think the campaign could be successful."

Mrs Johnson said Guisborough pool was built 32 years ago as a temporary structure and even that was as a result of a petition. The possibility of lottery funding is now the focus of action.

At last week's meeting, Guisborough town council also backed the campaign. Members considered a letter from the civic society chairman, Mr Ian Alexander, calling the state of the pool a scandal.

He said: "The state of the pool is something of a scandal considering the town and surrounding villages have a population of nearly 20,000 people."

Those invited to the February 7 meeting include Dr Kumar, Redcar and Cleveland council's leisure boss, Mr Peter Lane, club representatives and Mr Paddy Corcoran, head of Tees Valley Leisure which manages the pool on the council's behalf.

Mrs Johnson says it is hoped to form a steering committee to take the campaign forward, and she appealed for anyone with expertise in funding bids to contact her on 01287 639009.