A MEETING to finalise a deal which could re-open the borough's première training swimming pool has been re-scheduled for Thursday, after being postponed last week due to the weather.

John Allan, director of sports facilities provider Active Leisure Management (ALM), is “90 per cent” a deal can be struck to save the pool at Waltham Forest College, in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

Mr Allan believes he can keep costs down by opening the pool for six to eight hours a week and charging groups, including Friends of the Pool, to use it.

He is due to meet the college's principal Robin Jones on Thursday.

The pool was due to close two years ago but a council-brokered, part-subsidised deal with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) gave it a reprieve.

But the deal expired in September and closed as GLL was not prepared to fund it any longer and council leader Chris Robbins has ruled out a further subsidy from the taxpayer.

FOTP members say the pool is unique in the borough in offering unrestricted lane swimming.

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