A LEISURE centre’s pool could be closed down by a council due to ‘lack of support’.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has been holding a public consultation on the need to maintain Shadsworth Leisure Centre’s swimming pool.

Council bosses have said there is a need to make cuts at the centre in the face of ‘over budgeting’ in the maintenance and provision of swimming pools.

Councillors for the area said it would be ‘sad news’ to see the pool shut.

Cllr Tony Humphrys, who represents the area for the council, said one of the problems the site faces is getting lifeguards and volunteers.

He said: “It will be a shame if we lose it.

“We are hoping we can arrange some partnerships to keep it open

“I can understand why it is happening, it just seems to be cuts, cuts and more cuts at the moment.

“We had to campaign to keep it open three years ago, but I don’t think there is the same support now.

“People are moving on and using other facilities.”

As well as three years ago, the leisure centre also faced threats of closure in 2010, but was kept open due to public demand.

However Cllr Damian Talbot, executive member for leisure, said the pool is ‘no longer sustainable’ with the current number of users.

Other leisure centre facilities would remain open if the pool was to close.

Cllr Talbot said: “The number of casual users of the pool has dropped off.

“We have got a brand new leisure centre in the middle of town which has become extremely popular.

“We have got some of the best swimming facilities in East Lancashire in the borough.”

Cllr Talbot also said he has held meeting with Blackburn Centurions Swimming club, who are the ‘main users of the pool’, about its future.

He said the consultation will be discussed at next week's executive board meeting and a decision will be made early in the New Year.

The pool at Shadsworth Leisure Centre, which first opened in 1974, is described by the council as ‘older’ and more ‘costly’ than the other ‘newer and more modern’ pools.

More than £25 million has been invested by Blackburn with Darwen Council into Darwen Leisure Centre, which opened in 2010, and Blackburn College’s ‘more modern’ leisure facilities, which opened in March 2015.

The borough is also home to Daisyfield Pools.

The council said the need to review the status of the leisure centre pool is in response to the ‘unprecedented budget cuts’ the council has faced since 2010 and the need for ‘savings’ in the coming years.

The council said that it has over-budgeted in recent years, having a higher number of swimming pools in the borough than both the national and north west average.

Users of Shadsworth swimming centres have been encouraged to complete the consultation survey, which can be picked up from the Shadsworth Road centre, and have their say.

The council said all responses will be taken into consideration and inform their decisions going forward, including any other groups who would be interested in running the pool themselves.

The consultation will finish tomorrow.