CAMPAIGNERS battling to save their local swimming pool now have the £10,000 needed for a show-down with council bosses in the High Court.

And Blaenavon residents believe they can overturn Torfaen council's decision to permanently axe the town's swimming pool and leisure centre.

It closed in January after suffering storm damage and in July the council agreed to flatten the centre to make way for an £11 million new school.

Campaign group BLAST(Blaenavon Leisure Centre and Swimming Troubleshooters) have hired solicitor Gareth Edwards of Everett Tomlin, Lloyd and Pratt in Pontypool.

Legal costs are expected to total £10,000 and local residents have made a "magnificent effort" according to the group to raise over £11,000 through a variety of events.

Torfaen council maintains it made "a properly constituted democratic decision" which it will continue to implement until it receives a "formal legal challenge".

BLAST'S legal argument hinges on a covenant, entered into by the trustees of the Workingmen's Hall and Blaenavon Urban District council in 1962, when the site was given to the council.

The convenant limits the use of the site for "recreational" purposes only.

Mr Edwards said: "Firstly we hope to negotiate with the council to see if an agreement can be reached," he said.

If negotiation failed, Mr Edwards said a High Court Judge would have to decide whether the covenant prevented development on the site.

The council plans to build a school and health centre on the site, with some leisure facilities, but no swimming pool.

It is yet to apply for funding from the National Assembly.

BLAST secretary Claire Higgins said the group was ready to "fight 'til the end".

"We would like to hear from anyone who thinks they may be a descendant of the orginal trustees," she added.

Another more costly option open to the group is a judicial review but more funds would be needed.

A council spokeswoman added: "There has been correspondence with the legal representatives of BLAST, although nothing conclusive or substantive has yet been received. If and when it is the council will respond accordingly."

Pool was paid for by miners THE pool and recreation were paid for by miners' contributions in 1921 and looked after by the trustees of the Workingmen's Hall.

The site was handed to the urban district council in 1962.

BLAST is trying to trace the descendants of the original trustees who signed the covenant.