PROTESTERS greeted councillors arriving for a meeting in Rossendale amid fears that plans to build a new swimming pool in Haslingden are about to be scrapped.

Plans for a £3.2m pool at the sports centre have been put on hold by the council because of fears over the cost of the £5.6m transformation of the leisure facilities at Marl Pits in Rawtenstall and Haslingden.

About 20 protesters, some carrying banners, used the public questions section of the full council meeting last night to seek assurances the previously approved plans to replace the 1930s facilities would be carried out.

The Labour administration, which took control in May, has asked for time to consider its leisure spending options. It could use the money to buy the Valley Centre in Rawtenstall from owners Ashcap instead.

A motion put forward on Wednesday by Coun Jason Gledhill, the former Conservative portfolio holder for leisure, urging the “immediate implementation of the building of a new pool at Haslingden”, was defeated 19-13 and a Labour amendment, deferring a decision until the end of August was passed by the same margin.

Coun Alyson Barnes, council leader, said: “We have asked for a period of reflection as we are a new controlling group. We have to think about what our priorities are.”