THE threat to Cinderford swimming pool has receded slightly after the Forest councillors were told they could have a 999-year lease to take on running the town’s leisure centre.

The building’s owners, South Gloucester and Stroud College (SGS) – the sponsors of Forest High School which uses the pool and leisure centre – has said it will end the 40-year-old joint use agreement from the end of May.

That could mean the pool closing unless the Forest Council agrees to take over the full running costs including all interior and exterior repairs which would cost £87,000 a year for the next decade – the equivalent of nearly two per cent on Council Tax.

The council wants to amend the current agreement but would increase its share for internal repairs and maintenance from 55 per cent to 60 per cent.

A number of local people concerned about the threat to the pool’s future attended a meeting of the council’s Cabinet yesterday evening (Thursday) to hear proposals.

SGS chief executive Kevin Hamblin told the Cabinet it was not right the school "should be funding somebody swimming on a Tuesday evening."

A sticking point in negotiations, according to the council, was the reluctance of the college to sign over complete ownership or a very long lease.

But at the meeting Mr Hamblin said he would be happy with a 999-year lease.

The council’s senior legal officer, Claire Hughes, said following a meeting in March the college had said it would not sell or give a long lease.

She added: "This is the first we have heard of a 999-year lease."

Andy Barge, the council’s senior manager in charge of leisure, said it was wrong to say the school subsidised other users.

He said costs were split according to use so the 45 per cent of running costs paid by SGS reflected that use.

"When they say they are subsidising community use they are not - they are paying their share for educational delivery."

Opposition councillor Bruce Hogan was furious that councillors had only found out about the threat to the pool at a special meeting days before the Cabinet.

He said they should have been informed when SGS served notice in May last year.

The full council will decide how to deal with the issue at its meeting next Thursday (April 14).

Cinderford’s district councillors have called a public meeting to discuss the situation on Wednesday, April 20 at the Miners’ Welfare Hall in Wesley Road, Cinderford starting at 7pm.