A DEAL has been struck to reopen an East Lancashire swimming pool after pressure from community campaigners.

Bosses at Rossendale Council have agreed to hand over the keys to Haslingden Pool, in East Bank Avenue, which was closed in November 2013, after it made substantial losses.

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Now HAPPI (Haslingden All People’s Pool Initiative) has announced it will be taking over the 80-year-old baths, with support from the authority.

The initiative has also received assistance from officials representing the Amateur Swimming Association, and local swimming clubs, as they aim to reopen the pool this autumn.

Selina McConnell, of Team HAPPI, said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to work with Rossendale Council to get to this point.

“On July 1, 2014 ,we set out with just two members, determined to reopen Haslingden Baths, and here we are.

“We would like to say thank you to our community members, all of you who have supported us and continue to support us and to individuals and businesses in and around Haslingden.

“We would also like to thank Steve Jackson and the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association) for working so closely with us, and to Martyn Willcock, for his business advice.

“We ask, please, that everybody continues to support us, and if you haven’t already, please register as a volunteer.”

The initiative and council are now looking at loan and grant applications from a variety of sporting and community sources to relaunch the pool as a going concern.

Council leader Cllr Alyson Barnes said: “We’re delighted that the HAPPI group have been able to put together a proposal to re-open Haslingden Pool.

The nucleus of Team HAPPI also includes volunteers Sarah Astley, Richard Sutcliffe, Steve Marshall, Martin Harrison and James Stroud.