A SWIMMING club has said it would be a 'real shame' if a consultation into a town pool results in it being closed.

Blackburn Centurions Swimming Club hold lessons at the swimming pool in Shadsworth Leisure Centre, which the council has held a consultation into the future of.

Staff at the club said Blackburn with Darwen Council bosses have been in contact over the pools future and potential arrangements for the club.

The club has organised a 'contingency plan' to replace potential lost swimming sessions with new ones at Daisyfield Pools and Darwen Leisure Centre.

Nick Hartshorne-Evans, parent committee member of the club, said it would be a blow to the community to lose the facilities.

He said: "Of course we want the pool to stay open.

"It would be a real shame if such a long established leisure facility has to shut for whatever reason.

"Swimming is superb cardiovascular exercise and the vast majority of our members are under 16.

"We want as many pool facilities open as possible.

"For the community it is a real shame.

"Decisions shouldn't always be based on money."

He also said the club, which has been running for more than 100 years and has 180 members, has 'big plans' to expand in the New Year.

Mr Hartshorne-Evans has praised the council for being 'very accommodating' during the consultation.

He said they have helped them to arrange alternative swimming sessions in the borough.

The pool at Shadsworth Leisure Centre, which first opened in 1974, is described by the council as ‘older’ and more ‘costly’ than the other ‘newer and more modern’ pools.

More than £25 million has been invested by Blackburn with Darwen Council into Darwen Leisure Centre, which opened in 2010, and Blackburn College’s ‘more modern’ leisure facilities, which opened in March 2015.

Cllr Damian Talbot, executive member for leisure, said the pool is ‘no longer sustainable’ with the current number of users.

Cllr Talbot said: “The number of casual users of the pool has dropped off.

“We have got a brand new leisure centre in the middle of town which has become extremely popular.

“We have got some of the best swimming facilities in East Lancashire in the borough.”

Other leisure centre facilities would remain open if the pool was to close.

The consultation on the future of the pool ended on Friday (December 8) and a final decision is expected to be made in the New Year.