Arthur Hill campaigners are calling for the council to consult the people of Reading on plans for the pool.

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition asking Reading Borough Council (RBC) to consider reopening the site for leisure, sports and community use and consult with members of the public on the future of the site.

The petition was launched by Arthur Hill Campaign figurehead Peter Burt two weeks ago.

Mr Burt won a lengthy Freedom of Information (FOI) battle with the council, forcing it to reveal full details of the sale to OOAK.

RBC is now reviewing options for the future of the site.

Mr Burt states in the petition: “RBC’s plans to sell Arthur Hill swimming pool have collapsed and the council is now reviewing options for the future of the site.

“This provides a fantastic opportunity to reconsider the possibility of refurbishing our lovely pool and reopening it for public swimming.

“We call on the council to include the possibility of reopening Arthur Hill for leisure, sporting, and community activities in its options review, to consult fully and openly with members of the public on the future of the site, and to listen to the views expressed during the consultation.”

Councillor Jason Brock, leader of Reading Borough Council (RBC), announced the breakdown in negotiations with preferred bidder OOAK Developments LTD on July 16, three weeks after details of the proposed sale were revealed.

Cllr Brock told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We have reached the point where we thought things are not progressing as we wanted so we decided to discontinue negotiations and have a re-review of the site.

“We will wait for officers to present us with options. Our commitment is to deliver housing on that sire, affordable housing or key worker housing.

“Our plans are progressing for a new state of the art facility at Palmer Park which will deliver a much-needed facility for residents.”

Arthur Hill was closed in December 2016 after the council said it could no longer afford to repair the building.