CAMPAIGNERS bidding to save Whitworth pool turned out in force but left disappointed when councillors voted against keeping the pool open while its future is determined.

Standing orders were suspended in an unprecedented move to allow a former chairman of Whitworth Swimming Club, Craig Brierley, to address the council.

He accused them of inequality -- of spending 10 times as much money on the Rawtenstall pool Marl Pits than has been spent on Whitworth.

He said: "We believe you stand in shame for what you have done. This authority has reserves, it has more than enough money to pay for that pool to be repaired."

Rossendale Council went to the High Court to take control of the facilities and services previously run by Whitworth Town Council after the town clerk disappeared with the council's cash -- and made a promise that they would be better and more efficient.

But the pool needs £400,000 worth of repairs and maintenance work and leisure chairman Coun Neil Smith said numbers using the facility had fallen from 86,000 in 1998-1999 to 69,000 in 2000-2001.

Coun Smith said: "We are willing to listen to anybody who can come up with answers to this, but at this moment in time I don't see them unless the people of Whitworth can use the facility more I can't see us doing anything about it."

But campaigners said one of the main reasons numbers had fallen was because the facility was considered dirty and staff were given only four hours a week to clean.

Coun Terry Bolton said: "The closure of Whitworth pool will have far reaching social implications not just for Whitworth but for Bacup and beyond. The cost of travelling to Marl Pits and Rochdale will put swimming out of reach for some people."

Coun Ron Pickup said: "Between 1995 and 2001 the total spend on Marl Pits was £303,000 on Haslingden £136,000 and on Whitworth £39,000. That is a situation that has been going on for some considerable time."

He accused Rossendale of stockpiling reserves only to use the money to keep the Council Tax low next year when the budget was set.

Coun Eileen Kershaw unsuccessfully moved to have the pool kept open while its future was decided, but it was agreed that consultations would involve the swimming club at an early stage.

After the meeting former mayor Alan Neal, who was at the meeting with some 60 residents, said a further public meeting would be held before the first council consultation on November 8.