WHITWORTH residents are preparing to fight to ensure the survival of their pool which is under threat of closure by Rossendale Council.

The pool needs nearly £400,000 worth of work -- nearly £60,000 immediately -- and is shut because the pumping system has failed.

Work is needed on a flat roof which contains asbestos, and also on the pool equipment.

Councillors have given the pool a 25-day stay of execution while consultations are carried out. A decision on its future will be made by the full council on October 31.

The council-owned pool opened in August 1972and Whitworth Swimming Club began soon after in October.

The club has 300 members with 150 on the waiting list, it meets twice a week for a total of six hours with 120 swimmers aged five to 15 attending.

Club chairman and qualified swimming instructor Christine Ashcroft said: "It will devastate the Valley if this pool closes. I am aware of the work that needs carrying out, it has come about because of gross neglect over many years.

"The people of Whitworth paid for this facility and we will be fighting to keep it open.

"It is absolutely vital for this part of the Valley to have a pool, children from here won't travel to Marl Pits, Bacup and Rawtenstall swimming clubs already meet there and there is no space in Rochdale pools for our club. We have 14 qualified teachers who would be lost to the public -- it would be a tragedy."

Whitworth Recreation and Leisure Trust, which already runs the Civic Hall, wants to take over management of the pool.

The company secretary and Whitworth Councillor Ron Pickup is already chairman of a successful similar charitable trust in the Ribble Valley which runs the sports facilities in Clitheroe.

The trust is applying to have its charitable status registered and Coun Pickup said managing the pool would assist in gaining registration.

He said the council's agenda was to have two pools for Rossendale, Marl Pits and the proposed new pool in Bacup with Haslingden and Whitworth closing.

But he added: "A new pool for Bacup would cost £1.5million."