THE future of Silsden's school swimming pool is once again in doubt, after a sewer pipe was discovered under the site of a planned new changing room.

Shocked governors and staff at Hothfield Street Junior School were horrified to learn of the find, which was not shown on any drainage maps.

But to have the pipe re-routed could cost as much as £10,000, which will have to come from school funds.

This puts a £25,000 grant in jeopardy, because getting the cash is dependant on building the changing rooms. Now, the school has given parents the chance to decide if they want the pool to remain open, or if they would rather see it closed.

"It's just been horrendously unfortunate," said chairman of governors Carol Peel.

"But we would like to stress that all the money we've been given as donations has been spent on the upkeep of the pool, and we're grateful to everyone who has helped us so far."

The small pool was built in the 1970s with money from the town, and is used to teach children how to swim. As Silsden is surrounded by rivers and a canal, it was thought of as a good investment in the future of its population.

But it costs around £5,000 a year to keep the pool open, with money spent on chemicals, its upkeep and supplying a swimming tutor.

Last year the school was successful in getting a donation from the Liverpool-based Foundation for Sport and the Arts and thought this would bring an end to speculation over the pool's future. However, if the new changing room is not built then it will not get this money.

Questionnaires have gone out to all parents asking for their views on the swimming pool.

"What we're looking for is a mandate from the parents to see if they want to keep it open and if they're willing to support us," added Mrs Peel. "The situation has been difficult for a number of years and it just seems the right time to have a look at the issue and then see what we do from there."

Thousands of pounds have already been spent on replacing worn equipment, most of which was raised by school staff, parents and governors. But Mrs Peel added that some parents were unwilling to keep paying voluntary contributions for their children to have swimming lessons.

"If people don't want the pool to stay open then we have the mandate to close it," she said. "It's got to the point where maintenance costs have just rocketed because the equipment has reached the age where it's starting to go. We felt it was very important to tell parents the whole story and let them decide before taking any decision ourselves."

Parents are also being asked if they would be prepared to increase cash contributions they are making.

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