COUNCIL bosses say they are temporarily closing the leisure pool at Stourbridge's Crystal Leisure Centre over Christmas and the New Year while vital repairs are carried out.

The pool at the Dudley Council-run facility in Bell Street will close on Sunday December 11 and re-open on Monday January 2 2017 - as essential work to resurface the poolside and replace grouting in the pool tank needs to be undertaken.

Council chiefs say the pool will have to be emptied for the work to be carried out so they have chosen the quietest time of year to close the facility.

The 25-metre pool and the rest of the centre will remain open for business as usual.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley's cabinet member responsible for leisure centres, said: “The Christmas period is generally our quietest time of year so we have chosen to carry out the works now in order to cause as little disruption to customers as possible.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and would remind people that the 25-metre pool and the pools at our other leisure centres will be open as usual.”

News of the temporary pool closure comes as leisure centre fans are gearing up to fight a controversial council proposal to shut all three of the borough's existing leisure centres and build two new ones as replacements.

Councillor Ahmed said: "While we are in the early stages of planning our longer term vision for leisure provision in the borough, which will take years to come to fruition, it is important we maintain our facilities now for the enjoyment of everyone who uses them.

“We need to look at the detail of the long term proposals, which includes building two new centres, before we make any firm decision.

"However, I can assure people no immediate decision will be made on the future of the current leisure centres and before we have thoroughly consulted people.”

Meanwhile - fitness centre fans have started a Save Our Leisure Centres campaign on Facebook and launched an e-petition which can be signed by clicking here.

Members of the campaign group will also be in Stourbridge this Saturday (December 3) to gather support and gather signatures for their paper petitions.