THE future of a North Dorset swimming pool looks sunk after county bosses rejected a plea to provide financial help to keep it afloat from April next year.

As reported in the Daily Echo, government capping of council tax has left the district council unable to fund many of its discretionary services after next April, so councillors went cap in hand to County Hall asking for part-funding for Gillingham Leisure Centre.

It was hoped that the £270,000 injection would have bridged the gap between the ageing centre's proposed closure and its replacement, which is currently subject to consultation.

But despite Gillingham Town Council agreeing to top-up any county funding and a pledge from Gillingham School to increase pupils' use of the centre, cabinet members at Dorset voted unanimously against providing financial help.

Leader of the district council, Peter Webb, says the future of the centre now looks bleak.

"I wouldn't say it was a black and white choice yet but it's pretty grey," he said.

"It's disappointing."

Gillingham town, district and county councillor David Milsted, said: "As far as I'm concerned they have turned their backs on Gillingham and Gillingham will just have to make the best of it without them."

The existing leisure centre is due to be completely replaced with a new facility via a voluntary body through the district council's local delivery programme, called the Three Rivers Partnership.

But work on the new centre is not due to start on site until 2009.

Although £4 million has been set aside for its construction, the Three Rivers Partnership says it has no interest in helping to keep the old leisure centre going until the new one is completed.

A community exhibition is being held at Gillingham Town Hall next Friday, Saturday and Sunday detailing proposals for the new leisure centre and local provision.

It will be open Friday from 9am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm.