PLANS to re-open Dartmouth swimming pool remain on a 'knife-edge', despite a generous £12,000 package of council grants.

The cash-aid will meet essential repair bills and enable the outdoor pool to open in May, but campaigners are deeply concerned about running costs for the summer season – the shortfall is estimated at £5,000.

Last November, Dartmouth Swimming Pool Co Ltd launched a major campaign among the local business community. The appeal, targeted at shops, offices and firms, was aimed at cash donations, building materials and offers of spare-time help.

The pool committee decided on Tuesday to revive the campaign and it will now resort to another round of begging letters to top up the revenue.

Sir Geoffrey Newman, the chairman, explained: 'After doing all our sums, I have to say that our ability to re-open is still on a knife-edge.

'We worked out all our calculations, but despite generous grants from Dartmouth Town Council, which is giving us £8.000 a year for three years, and South Hams Council, which is making a one-off grant of £4,000, we still have to go back to the business community with a new package for them to consider.'

The council grants would pay for essential repairs prior to re-opening, he said, but not for ongoing costs once the town's Milton Lane pool was up and running.

The cost of salaries (reception staff, lifeguards), cleaning chemicals, catering supplies and numerous other bills and expenses was quite substantial, said Sir Geoffrey – 'and we are not prepared to recommend going ahead with the repair work until we know we can run the pool properly. It would be irresponsible to do the repairs knowing we did not have the money for running costs.'

The pool committee's role as a limited company enables it to trade and buy chemicals and catering supplies, and it is also has a registered charity status.

The pool normally opens from May to September, but it was closed at the end of the 1997 season and has been out of action ever since because of the need for urgent repairs.

Sir Geoffrey is anxious to keep the pool open so as to maintain a 'stable environment' in which the future needs for a major indoor pool complex in Dartmouth can be thoroughly assessed.

He added: 'We will now be putting out a chase-up letter to local businesses for donations, materials and offers of help.'