Kirkham Baths had been due to close in March to 2009 as part of cost-cutting measures by Fylde Borough Council

Councillor John Coombes, Leader of Fylde Borough Council, explains: "In March, as a result of tumbling user numbers, we made a decision to close our pools whilst we carried out a feasibility study on future use and management. This decision was not taken likely and we regretted having to do it. The Council came under fire when the decision was made but we were resolved that it was the right thing to do. At the time hard pressed Council Taxpayers were subsidising the two pools to the tune of over £1 million per annum.

"Over the past few months I have spent many hours meeting with interested groups and individuals and have made a point of keeping every person that contacted me up to date with my progress and have thanked them for their support.

"I am delighted to announce that a solution has been found which will secure funding for the Borough's two Pools for the medium term future at no cost to the Council Tax payer. I am confident that the Cabinet will adopt the plan and we can proudly say that we have resolved the issue."

At the Cabinet meeting, scheduled for 24 November, the plan will be put forward to hand over the Kirkham Pool to interested parties. It will then be their responsibility to make it work as a business. The advantage is that the proposals will see the pool remain without incurring any further revenue cost to the council.

An added bonus is that, if approved, the decision may pave the way to a similar scheme which could see St Annes Pool re-opened.

However the down side is that there will be no subsidy available and the only way the pools will stay open is if the business is a success and residents make use of the pools to a much higher degree than was the case before they were earmarked for closure.

Councillor Coombes adds: "I have listened, learned and delivered what the community wanted - I hope that the community will now respond en mass and support the pools more than in the past, as this is the only way of securing them for the long term.

"Since 2003 we have had to address some long standing and thorny issues, staffing structures, budgets and how we operated and managed all services. These issues were met head on and as a result we now have some of the highest performing, low cost services in Local Government with high levels of resident satisfaction."