THE decision to close Temple Cowley Pools will be discussed today.

Campaigners have submitted a petition to Oxford City Council asking it to work with them to keep the facilites in Temple Road open.

Under the council’s constitution, petitions with more than 1,500 signatures must be debated by full council.

Nigel Gibson’s petition, which has 1,587 signatures, reads: “We the undersigned strongly oppose Oxford City Council’s plan to demolish Temple Cowley Pools and Fitness Centre in order to sell publicly owned land for housing.

“We believe this is a short-sighted, destructive policy which will have detrimental effects on health and well-being, particularly of the most vulnerable people who use the centre to maintain their health and quality of life.”

The city council has said it has to close Temple Cowley Pools because it is too expensive to keep running it and it is no longer fit for purpose.

It has designated the pool as a community asset which means campaigners have an opportunity to purchase the facility in the next six months.

The meeting of the council will take place in the town hall in St Aldate’s tonight at 5pm.