MORE than 150 people joined MP Ashok Kumar to fight proposals to close Guisborough Swimming Pool yesterday.

Their protests were also backed by the company that is contracted to run leisure facilities on behalf of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Paddy Corcoran, managing director of Tees Valley Leisure, said the arguments for closure were unfounded.

The council has described the pool as being in a disgraceful condition, and estimates it will cost £500,000 to bring up to standard. It also said the annual running costs amounted to £120,000.

Mr Corcoran said: "The council wants to close the pool on health and safety grounds, but we would not be running it if it was an unsafe facility.

"It would cost £200,000 to maintain the pool as it is, and not £500,000, as quoted. That is what it would cost to totally refurbish it.

"I also think the figure of £120,000 for running costs is rather high."

He said the council also planned to terminate the company's contract to manage the pool, which runs until August 2006, in April next year, which could mean redundancies.

The council has invited bids to take over the contract from next year.

Speaking at the meeting, outside the Howlbeck Road pool, Dr Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "It is ridiculous that a town of 17,500 people should lose its pool.

"I shall meet with Sports Minister Richard Caborn MP to look at funding strategies to keep the pool open."

Mark Hirst, the headteacher at Guisborough's Galley Hill Primary School, said more than 400 pupils had swimming lessons there each week, and that access to other pools would be difficult.

Rob Vincent-Jones, chairman of Guisborough Swimming Club, said the pool provided an important social function, while allowing its members to keep fit.

Dave Fitzpatrick, deputy chairman of the council's cabinet, said: "The council has not yet made a decision to close Guisborough pool, and if we did, it would be on health and safety grounds.

"We have given notice to Tees Valley Leisure and they have been invited to bid with other bidders."

A further meeting about the pool will be held outside Sunnyfield House, in Guisborough, at 10.30am today.