RESIDENTS and councillors are joining forces to urge Rossendale Council to build a new swimming pool in Haslingden.

Plans for a pool at the sports centre have been put on hold by the council because of fears over the cost of the £5.6million transformation of the leisure facilities at Marl Pits and Haslingden Sports Centre.

But residents desperate to see the new pool built have protested outside the centre and met with council officials to discuss the issue.

Coun Jason Gledhill, the former portfolio holder for leisure, said: “The existing 1930’s pool at Haslingden is very expensive to run and maintain.

“Without the building of a new pool the council cannot afford to keep this pool open as it will actually mean they have to increase the currently planned leisure budget, the exact opposite of what they profess to want to achieve.

“This can only lead to one conclusion, that the Labour leader-ship currently intends to close the pool, with the significant ramific-ations this brings to many people.” Coun Gledhill will propose a motion at today’s meeting of the full council calling for the new pool to be built.

Coun Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, said: “What we have asked for is a period of reflection as we are a new controlling group.

“It is very clear to me that we have got some real challenges as a council, particularly around finances.

“We have to think very long and very hard about what our priorities are.”