URGENT repairs to Brightlingsea’s outdoor swimming pool are to be funded by its town council.

Members backed the move at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, following talks with Tendring Council on Monday.

Now, Brightlingsea Town Council is quickly seeking quotes from plumbers and builders, hoping to have the pool open early next month.

It has agreed to fund repairs to the pool, while Tendring Council funds its running for this year.

However, the pool still faces an uncertain longer term, with further talks due between the two councils on what happens after this summer.

Closure has been threatened, but Tendring selling the pool to the town council for a pound has also been raised. The district council believes the cost of keeping the pool may be too much.

Last Friday, Tendring Council agreed to let its deputy leader Carlo Guglielmi meet and strike a quick deal with Brightlingsea Town Council, without coming back to the district council, due to the urgency of the situation.

Brightlingsea mayor Karen Yallop said the Monday afternoon meeting featured Cabinet members and officers from Tendring Council, plus members of Brightlingsea Town Council.

The deal was then put to town council on Wednesday night and agreed.

Tendring District Council has estimated repairs to the pool would cost £40,000 but the town council believes it can be done more cheaply, though it is unsure how much.

“We have local builders and plumbers looking at the work and we will find out from them,” said Mayor Karen Yallop.

The deal sees Tendring fund the pool’s operation for this year and then there will be negotiations to “see the way forward.”

“We are really, really pleased the pool will be open this year. It’s a huge asset to the seafront and tourism but we have to stress people must use it,” Mayor Yallop continued.

People with ideas, such as swimming clubs, are asked to come forward.

Jayne Chapman, the chairman of Tendring Council and a Brightlingsea town councillor, confirmed the deal.

“We have been given the chance to get the pool open this year,” she said.

Typically, with the pool usually open by the end of May, the pool costs £60,000 a year to run.

But with a late opening in July, a “much smaller deficit” is expected.

However, as soon as the pool re-opens, Mrs Chapman said talks between two councils about its longer term would begin.