Councillors and sports chiefs have warned that cash-starved facilities could deteriorate because of a £1m shortfall in Leeds City Council's leisure funding.

And the Chairman of Otley Sports Council, John Morgan, predicts a bleak future for the Chippendale Pool at Otley's Prince Henry's Grammar School.

Mr Morgan fears the pool, which has been closed on Saturdays since before Christmas, could be axed for good if the town fails to secure a £1.6 million lottery bid. If successful, it could pave the way for an overhaul of the whole Prince Henry Leisure site.

Mr Morgan said: "If we don't get lottery funding that pool will close within a year because of the lack of maintenance. It's getting to the point where the health and safety executive could say there's something wrong.

"People have complained so much and for so long about the facilities in Otley, but you get nowhere. People are totally disheartened."

He said: "There is no reason why the pool should be closed. Leeds Council say it's because of falling attendance but it's an excuse for 25 years of neglect.

"Numbers may be down but that's because they don't publicise the pool or want to attract people there."

A Council spokesman said the leisure services department had no plans to freeze spending or recruitment, in spite of some jobs being axed at Christmas.

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