THE FIGHT to keep Arthur Hill Baths open officially begun on Thursday evening at the first meeting of the newly named Arthur Hill Save Our Swimming (SOS) group.

Hoards of local activists crowded into The Warehouse on Cumberland Road to work out how the council's plans to close the pool on December 19 could be averted.

Since October 18, when Reading Borough Council voted in favour of closure, a working group has been meeting weekly in a bid to mount a legal challenge contesting the decision.

Those assembled were told that although an application for legal aid had failed, the group were preparing to appeal and eventually challenge a perceived lack of consultation period offered by the council.

In addition, a fundraising drive that aims to raise £10,000 by December 31 was started.

Peter Burt, a director of Arthur Hill SOS, said: “We have set a high target for two reasons.

“Firstly, we want to show the council we can do it. If we get £800 we know there's not the interest to take this project further.

“Secondly, we need the money to get started with the work we want to do.”

In the long run, such work may involve leasing the property from the council and covering the several hundred thousand pound yearly upkeep and maintenance cost of the pool.

The group also voted to form a community interest company in order to provide members and directors of the campaign with limited liability and a elevated platform from which to challenge the council.

At the end of the evening members tucked into a vegan curry before singing happy birthday to Arthur Hill, which turns 105 years-old on November 29.

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