PRIVATE companies could be brought in to run the district's crumbling swimming pools and leisure centres and inject desperately needed cash.

Bradford Council believes private investment or a leisure trust may be the only way to guarantee a bright future for its pools and sports centres.

The move will affect Ilkley Lido and swimming pool but Ilkley district and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth has stressed that the future of both pools is safe.

Councillors have been told that more than £6 million needs to be invested over the next five years to modernise pools and leisure centres - and that investment can't be guaranteed out of the public purse.

The council's executive committee will be asked to consider putting swimming pools at Bingley, Eccleshill, Ilkley, Queensbury, Shipley and Bowling into a leisure trust or setting up a partnership with a private company to run them.

Coun Hawkesworth, who as environment executive member is in charge of leisure, said no decisions had been taken about the future of the pools.

She said: "The leisure service in Bradford has been under-funded for years - the problem is where do we get the money from, but no decision has been made in any way whatsoever."

Coun Hawkesworth stressed that the future of Ilkley Lido and Ilkley swimming pool was not under threat.

She said that the Lido in particular had 'added value' for the district in promoting its image and attracting tourists.

The move comes after the district's leisure facilities received only a 'fair' one-star rating from the Audit Commission in a report last year.

The Commission inspectors will re-examine the service again this month and their findings will be reflected in the council's comprehensive performance assessment later this year.

A bad inspection could hit the council's place in the national local authority league table which rated Bradford 'good' this year.

Partnership with private companies could result in an arrangement similar to the council's set up with Education Bradford to run the education services.

Non-profit making leisure trusts would have access to funding sources which are not available to councils because of legal restrictions.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "A leisure trust is something we have to pursue. A number of local authorities are now using them - some are successful and some are not."

But the council's GMB convener, Ray Alderman, was not happy about the proposals.

He said: "I would have great concerns about a transfer. This is privatisation of the services and council workers never benefit from this situation."