A CONSERVATIVE councillor has said the Water Place should never have been built.

Astley Bridge councillor Stuart Lever said: "The town has lost millions of pounds keeping the place open. It lost so much, we could have taken every person who used the Water Place and given them free membership to a private health club.

"The simple fact is, the place should never have been built. The council should have sold it to a private developer in 1988."

Labour MP David Crausby has expressed concern that the potential loss of the Water Place will lead to a lack of cheap swimming facilities in the town centre.

Mr Crausby, who represents Bolton North-east, claimed private health clubs were more attractive.

But he added: "I know there are other pools in the borough but the Water Place is conveniently central and near to the bus station."

Mr Crausby's colleague, Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South-east, said: "It would be very sad if the pool closed. For lots of families it would be a disaster."