The under-threat Auchenharvie swimming pool could stay afloat after a petition was lodged with the council to save it.
A consultation is due to take place in August to decide the pool’s fate.
Resident David Rodger presented a petition containing about 4500 signatures to North Ayrshire Council.
A cabinet meeting last week heard reasons why the Stevenston pool should stay open.
The leisure hub gets 5500 visits every month.
The petition said: “The town of Stevenston, North Ayrshire, is officially the most deprived small town in Scotland, due to decades of neglect and council indifference.
“One of our main assets is our swimming pool and gym at Auchenharvie here.
“ It is where many people come not only to get fit but to enjoy themselves and socialise. They keep many people sane and they help to make life bearable.”
The council put forward a proposal to shut the pool and move it to a new school campus in Ardrossan’s North Shore.
Stevenston councillor John Sweeney has called for the leisure hub to stay in the town.
He said: “I’m quite hopeful that if everyone involved in the petition backs the consultation to keep it where it is common sense should prevail.”
The Labour councillor said people will not be able to afford travel to Ardrossan.
Council leader Joe Cullinane said the issue of the pool should be decoupled from the new Ardrossan Academy campus.
He said at the cabinet meeting: “We are giving the power and decision making back to the local community.”
After the meeting he added: “The key issue is that we need a new Ardrossan Academy.
“That is absolutely essential for this and future generations of young people in the Three Towns.
“However, the pool remains a contentious local issue. We recognise that.
“The public survey, school engagement and Mr Rodger’s petition have combined to present a very mixed view from the pre-engagement process.”
He said a “stand-alone consultation” is needed to get a “clear steer from the public” on the future of swimming in the Three Towns.
A consultation has been taking place to gauge public reaction to the new campus for Adrossan Academy.
