CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating an agreement that will see Brightlingsea’s swimming pool saved this summer.

Tendring Council had looked at selling the historic pool after it was revealed the site need more than £36,000 worth of repairs and was being subsidised to the tune of £55,000 a year.

Brightlingsea Town Council launched a campaign to save the Promenade Way pool and undertook repairs at the site.

A deadline was originally set for the end of 2016 for a decision to be made as to whether the town council would take on a long lease on the pool and operate it or whether Tendring Council would decommission it.

Following a meeting earlier this year, the town council proposed meeting part of the cost of running the pool this summer.

That will give the council time to complete its business plan by the end of September for a final decision is made over the future of the site.

Brightlingsea Town Council has agreed to offset 50 per cent of the operating deficit, up to a maximum of £30,000 for the 2017 season.

Brightlingsea councillor Graham Steady said the move was fantastic news for the town.

He said: “This is really positive for us because we are looking to revamp the Wester Promenade – we have just spent £25,000 on play equipment down there.

“The swimming pool is an integral part of the promenade.

“The whole last season we have been looking at ways to generate income and attract grant funding and improve the site as well.

“We are looking at some sort of heating system, which is difficult with an outside pool, but it can be done.

“We have also been in contact with the Amateur Swimming Association and they will come down to advise us on how to manage the pool.

“We also want to get the local community involved and form a charitable sporting trust and run events.”

Tendring Council’s cabinet approved the plan to work with the town council at a meeting on Friday.

Carlo Guglielmi, deputy leader of the district council, said: “We agreed to put the brakes on our plans to give Brightlingsea Town Council enough time to look for other solution as they were very keen to keep the swimming pool going.

“I would like to thank the town council for all the work they have put in to find meaningful sources of funding.

“They convinced me they are serious about doing this.

“The pool will be open for eight weeks this summer to encapsulate the school holidays.”

A spokesman for Brightlingsea Town Council added: “The swimming pool has been under threat of closure for the last three years due to budget cuts imposed upon Tendring Council by central government.

“The town council is committed to improving the pool and keeping it open as far as it is economically viable to do so.

“It is vital however that we have the support of people in the town and we need to gauge public support and assess how the community want to be involved in the future.”

The town council will be asking residents for their views at a public meeting on April 26.