AN award-winning £3.5 million swimming pool built as the result of a tireless fund-raising campaign by volunteers four years ago could be bulldozed if a private operator does not come forward with a viable business plan next month.

The news was confirmed this week in the face of a damning report on the condition of Berners Pool in Grange that highlights a range of faults and damage that will require correcting before it could be opened to the public in the future.

The situation was described as "bleak" by South Lakeland District Council chief executive Mike Jones, who welcomed offers of advice and expertise from those involved with the project at the time of its design and construction.

Despite drawing wide support from members of the community - who have collected a 1,200 name petition calling for its reopening - the future of the pool now lies in the hope of finding a private contractor willing to take it on.

The pool, built using a £2.5 million lottery grant from Sport England, contributions from both district and county councils as well as significant private fund-raising and donations, is set to enter a tendering process next month.

But following a request for a meeting from Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron to discuss the matter, Sport England confirmed it would not allocate any additional money towards the cost of repairs to the fabric of Berners Pool.

SLDC's Mike Jones stressed demolition of the building was just one of the options being considered should the process prove fruitless, and no other solution could be found to allow the centre to pay for itself.

He described the situation as incredibly sad, but said all options had to remain open.

"Bulldozing the pool has to be an option but would remain a very, very last resort.

"It would be tragic if we got to that stage because of the hard work and effort the whole community in Grange put in to raise the money in the first place.

"And we will exhaust all possibilities first in the search for a solution. But Berners has to have a viable future, and we need a private company to come forward with a business plan to provide that."

An advertisement inviting tenders for the operation of Berners Pool, on a lease of up to 125 years, will be placed in National Leisure Magazine on June 6.

Should no one come forward, SLDC - which took control of Berners Pool following the winding up of the Cartmel Peninsula Recreational Trust earlier this year - states it will look at the issue in an holistic way in an attempt to ensure the best possible use of the site for the benefit of the whole community.

"The situation as it stands now does look bleak," added Mr Jones.

"But we are hopeful there might be someone out there who can come up with some ideas.

"We are also prepared to be flexible and work with anyone that comes forward, perhaps in terms of start-up costs or plans for adding some dry sports facilities at the site to help subsidise the pool itself."

The architect, Stephen Hodder, of Hodder Associates, has offered to talk to companies interested in submitting a business plan for the pool.

And David Atkinson, managing director of building firm Thomas Armstrong Ltd, also pledged his advice and expertise in helping to ensure the survival of Berners Pool.

He said: "We are extremely disappointed the situation is as it is and we would certainly be willing to attend a meeting to help find some solution."

A charitable trust was set up in 1995 to raise money to replace the 60-year-old Olympic-sized outdoor saltwater pool on the promenade that closed in 1992.

The cash raised included more than 340 individuals and organisations each paying £250 to become founders', and individual donations and numerous sponsored and community events being held to boost the coffers.

Funding also came from SLDC, Cumbria County Council and Grange Town Council, which included money bequeathed to the cause from Lt Col Austin Townsend Porritt - who helped build the original pool in 1932.

In 2004, Stephen Hodder was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects award for Berners Pool - which recognises buildings that have high architectural standards and make a significant contribution to the local environment.