COMMUNITY pools in Carnforth and Hornby are to stay open after Lancaster City Council agreed to continue running them with Lancashire County Council.

Around £180,000 funding has been secured for the pools in 2011 after lengthy discussions between the two authorities.

A pool in Heysham, near Morecambe, will also continue to operate after both councils identified ‘efficiency’ savings which means the pools can stay open.

“From day one we’ve always said that we wanted to see the community pools to remain open but it was clear that the cost of running them placed a great burden on the city council’s limited resources,” said Coun Stuart Langhorn, leader of Lancaster City Council.

“Our colleagues at Lancashire County Council also recognised this and we have worked together to find the necessary funding to ensure that the city council is able to continue running them.

“We have been working together looking for savings and we have managed to make savings in other areas which means we can keep these pools open.”

Coun Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “Following very constructive discussions between ourselves and Lancaster City Council, I am delighted that local people will still be able to use these community pools.

“We’re very pleased that a solution has been found that helps both councils.

"It's important in the current financial climate that councils make savings by considering new ways to fund services, including some closer working with the city council to deliver services for the people we serve."

Mark Smith, head coach of the Carnforth and District Otters Swimming Club, a competitive swimming group, said: “We’re very pleased that our local pool will remain open and it enables us to carry on without having to reduce the number of swimmers who are with us.

“It’s good news for the club and it means we can provide the same service to our members as we always have.”

At a meeting on January 19 2010, the city council’s Cabinet agreed to give the county council 12 months notice to end the partnership.

After that decision, both authorities explored their options and found efficiencies within both councils to make sure the community pools could remain open.