CAMPAIGNERS say eleventh hour talks with council chiefs on the fate of Blaenavon Leisure Centre is just the next step in their fight.

Torfaen council has confirmed a decision will be made on the future of the centre on July 18, when a special cabinet and full council meeting is held.

Members will vote on whether to keep the centre and pool, which was closed after severe storm damage in January, or build a new £11 million school and health centre.

Chairman of action group Blaenavon Leisure And Swimming Troubleshooters (BLAST), John Beavan said the meetings will not change anything.

"I don't feel the council have communicated enough with the community. These last minute meetings won't change anything. The council bosses have made up their minds."

But he says BLAST will continue to fight, "We are in talks about a legal argument and we are finding out about charitable trusts to keep it open."

More than 8,000 people signed a petition calling for the centre to be kept open and hundreds have marched through the town in protest.

The group have set up a base in the Broad Street where members of the public can find out more about the campaign. Council bosses will meet with BLAST on July 4 as well as other local user groups, and Blaenavon town council.

The meetings will be followed by public exhibitions of the school plans at Blaenavon's Workmen's Hall on July 6 and 7.

Mr Beavan, a former manager of the centre, worked there for more than 30 years and said he will check recent repair figures released by the council.

"The council says it will cost £280,000 just to carry out basic repairs so the centre can reopen. They don't add up so we will be sitting down with officers to go through all the costs they have stated."