PORTONIANS could be back in the swim next month if councillors agree to fork out an extra £50,000 at a crunch meeting on Tuesday.

Residents and local councillors had slammed Inverclyde Leisure's plan not to re-open the town's pool until next Easter, while both Gourock Pool and the Waterfront Leisure Centre are back in action.

Council leader Stephen McCabe had asked officers to ascertain what it would cost the trust to re-open the facility.

They say it would take £51,000.

The SNP's Jim MacLeod, who has been inundated with complaints from constituents on the issue, is urging other councillors to vote in favour of the investment, which would cover running costs from October to April.

Cllr MacLeod said: "There were so many Portonians annoyed that the Port Baths were not being re-opened.

"I contacted Inverclyde Leisure expressing my concerns about the baths and suggested a couple of solutions and also emailed council officials and raised the matter at the education and communities committee meeting.

"I'm hoping my fellow councillors will vote for the funding to be passed next week so we can see the pool reopened, allowing local people in the town and beyond to be able to go for a swim in the Port Baths."

Fellow town councillor Drew McKenzie had argued that the extra subsidy handed to Gourock Pool to extend its session until end of 31 October should be transferred to Port Baths when the outdoor pool closes.

He said: "It is a very well used local asset and to keep it closed would be absurd."

If the new proposal gets the go-ahead Port Baths will re-open on October 5, in time for the school holidays.

The report by officials says: "Contact has been made with Inverclyde Leisure and the recommended approach would be to open the Port Glasgow Pool on October 5.

"The additional cost for opening Port Glasgow Pool is approximately £51,000 from October 2020 to 31 March 2021."