THE DECISION to accept a bid to flatten Temple Cowley Pools to make way for 47 new homes is set to go before a scrutiny committee next week.

After four years of fighting to save the pool, campaigners lost out to a £3.5m bid from housing association Catalyst last week.

Campaign group Save Temple Cowley Pools wanted to lease the site from the council, keep the pool and open a community centre alongside 17 social housing properties.

Oxford City Council’s city executive board debated both bids before rejecting the proposal of a community-run pool in favour of the housing association.

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But Green councillor Craig Simmons called in the report of the two bids for the scrutiny committee to consider the decision. If the committee decide to ask for a reconsideration, it will present its views to the city executive board, which will then decide whether to stick with the original resolution or make a new one.

In April this year the pool was recognised as an Asset of Community Value, which granted the campaigners six months to put a bid together to save the pool.

The closure of the Temple Cowley leisure complex is part of the council’s plans to replace it with a newer £9.23m building in Blackbird Leys.

The meeting will take place next Tuesday in the St Aldate’s Room at the Town Hall, St Aldate’s, at 3pm.

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