WALTHAM Forest's premiere training pool WILL close tomorrow – but a rescue plan could see it re-opened later this month.

The pool at Waltham Forest College, in Forest Road, will close as Greenwich Leisure Ltd, which says it is losing £1,000 a week by running the pool, is not prepared to fund it any longer.

But a swimming pool operator has been in talks with the college about taking over the running of the aged facility.

It was hoped the private firm would conduct a site visit on Friday, but this has now been postponed until September 21, meaning there is no prospect of a last-ditch plan to prevent the closure.

Waltham Forest College principal Robin Jones, who says he wants the pool to be saved, says the college will maintain the closed pool until the site visit, meaning it can be re-opened quickly if necessary.

Mr Jones said: “We will keep the water clean and at the right temperature until the meeting has taken place.

“I really hope the pool can be saved.”

Mr Jones said the college itself does not wish to divert much-needed money from teaching to keep the pool open.

Campaigners from the Friends of the Pool group say the pool is a unique facility in the borough as it provides unrestricted lane swimming.

The college intended to close the pool two years ago but a council-brokered, part- subsidised deal with Greenwich Leisure Ltd, which expired in June, gave it a reprieve.

An expected redevelopment of the college, which would have seen the pool demolished, did not happen for financial reasons.

Council leader Chris Robbins has ruled out a further subsidy from the taxpayer.