THE POSSIBLE sale of Gannow Pool will go before councillors next week.

The loss-making Victorian baths are scheduled to close on July 3 and Burnley Council, which owns the building and neighbouring land, is in discussions with an organisation who want the site for community use.

A possible sell-off to the group, which has not been named, will be discussed by the council's Executive, which meets on Tuesday.

The decision to close the 104-year-old pool was taken by the council earlier this year following a major review of the demand for leisure facilities, condition surveys of the council's sports centres and public consultation.

Residents across the borough were given the choice of four options and a large majority supported the option that would see a replacement for the Thompson Centre, Padiham Leisure Centre upgraded and Gannow Pool closed.

Protesters, however, have launched a campaign to keep the baths at Gannow open. A protest against the closure was held outside the baths on Saturday.

Mick Cartledge, the council's director of community services, said: "We understand that some people have an affinity with the baths but the consultation gave a clear message that the majority of people, especially young people, wanted modern facilities.

"The baths run at a significant loss which means that every council tax payer in the borough subsidises the relatively small number of people that use the building.

"All existing users and clubs from Gannow Pool are being accommodated at the Thompson Centre and Padiham Leisure Centre, and, therefore, it makes sense to go ahead with the closure."

Proposals are in the pipeline to build a combined health and leisure centre on the current St Peter's multi-storey car park in the centre of Burnley -- a move that would get rid of an eyesore car park and replace it with an easily accessible and innovative centre. The council will be consulting on the designs for the new facility during July and August with construction on the new facility starting in January.