SEDGEMOOR District Council this week insisted the Splash is 'past the point of no return' - but campaigners are vowing to carry on the fight to stop its demolition.

Council chief executive Kerry Rickards met with the Bridgwater Forward action group last Wednesday to defend the decision to close the facility, which he says WILL be demolished within weeks.

As reported, Bridgwater Forward has launched a fundraising drive to pay for a judicial review - claiming there were 'legal and constitutional failings' in the decision to close the Splash.

After the meeting, Mr Rickards told the Mercury he believed the legal challenge was now over and said the Splash would be torn down gradually in the next 12 weeks.

He said: “It is important to keep talking to people who are upset about the Splash closure but we are beyond the point of no return on that and I call on them now to get behind the plans for the new pool.”

However, town councillor Bill Monteith, who chaired last week's meeting, told the Mercury afterwards the prospect of a judicial review was still alive.

He added: “The truth is that if we don't get legal aid we won't be able to afford the judicial review and won't be able to proceed, but that doesn't mean we don't have a case.”

Bridgwater Forward founder and Labour district councillor Brian Smedley added: “We are still investigating all the ways we can challenge the decision - not just by judicial review but by taking our case to the ombudsman.”