A POSSIBLE funding lifeline may be thrown to re-open Port Glasgow Baths, the Tele can reveal.

Local swimmers and councillors have been united in their anger at plans to keep the pool shut until next Easter.

Inverclyde Leisure say the decision is down to lack of income created by coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The trust has lost £1.2m so far due to the virus.

But bosses have been criticised for keeping the Port facility shut while reopening pools in Greenock and Gourock.

Council leader Stephen McCabe says he is sympathetic to residents unhappy about the situation.

He has now asked Inverclyde Leisure to come back with a figure of what it would take for the baths to re-open sooner.

The matter was discussed at a Municipal Buildings meeting this week.

Councillor McCabe said: "We were discussing the funding the council had to give in relation to Inverclyde Leisure.

"The council has committed an extra £820,000 and agreed to a further £80,000 to bring this up to £900,000.

"I asked what extra funding would be required to allow the Port Baths to re-open.

"Once officers have that information from Inverclyde Leisure, it will be included in the papers for the next meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee.

"I can understand people not being happy about Port Baths not re-opening.

"Inverclyde Leisure have been looking at all their operations and had to prioritise.

"One of the key aspects of getting facilities up and running is the funding perspective, which facilities are performing best to help them continue their business."

Cllr McCabe says the Port Baths couldn't operate without a subsidy from the council but that the same was true of Gourock Pool and the Waterfront Leisure Centre.

He said: "From our perspective I would like to see the Port Baths to re-open sooner rather than later."

The Policy and Resources meeting is due to be held on September 15.