THE COUNCIL insists it has not entirely ruled out building a 50-metre swimming pool following pressure from campaigners.

Members of RG Splash launched a petition at the former Central Pool site in Bedford Road on Saturday.

Aquatic campaigners want Reading Borough Council to build a 50-metre pool instead of two 25-metre pools.

It comes after the council shut down Central Pool and Arthur Hill Pool in East Reading after the sites fell into disrepair.

And former Olympic champion Adrian Moorhouse, who won gold in the 100-metre breaststroke at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, added his support on social media.

He Tweeted: "It is rather ridiculous that a town with a history of swimming and the size of Reading is not considering a 50m pool. Living nearby, I'm happy to support the cause."

As things stand, a six-lane community pool at Palmer Park will replace Arhur Hill Pool while a modern competition pool, complete with diving boards, will be placed at Rivermead as a substitute for Central Pool.

The existing pool at Rivermead will be removed but a demountable pool has already been installed for the interim.

RBC recently cancelled its contract with GLL, the firm which managed Rivermead Leisure Centre, and placed an advert in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The authority is seeking a tender contract for a company to manage all of its indoor leisure facilities within the borough.

But campaigners from RG50 have called for the council to scrap its proposals and instead build a single 50m swimming pool.

Sarah Lawrence wrote on Twitter: "(A) 50m pool would be a fantastic asset with more public swimming times. The two slots I, and my children, swam at have gone with two pool closures.

"Fingers crossed for a bright swimming future."

Officers at Reading Borough Council will speak to aquatic groups and other sports clubs about the authority's leisure proposals.

A council spokesman said a 50-metre pool is a possibility but said funding could be an issue.

The spokesman said: “As part of the Council’s leisure procurement process we will be speaking with local sports clubs, including campaigners from RG50, and including their stated aspirations as information for the operators to consider when developing their bids.

“At this stage we haven’t ruled out the possibility of a 50m pool. However, affordability is obviously a critical issue and we need to give bidders as much flexibility as possible to come up with the most cost-effective solution. 

"Whatever solution is developed, we are anticipating a significant upgrade in the quality of the town’s leisure facilities.”