Starbeck Baths first opened as the Prince of Wales Baths in 1870

The suggestion has been made by two Harrogate councillors who are investigating ways of keeping the town's historic Starbeck Baths open.

The pool, in Spa Lane, came under threat of closure as the council tried to make cutbacks in its budget.

Council chiefs thought the cost of renovating the 130-year-old Victorian building, at nearly �1m, was too high.

Access to funding

But the Conservative administration decided to set up a working party to examine the pool's future.

The party will report back in July but councillors Jim Clark and Fred Willis believe a not-for-profit trust could be the way forward.

Councillor Clark says a pool in Newcastle was saved by a trust and Tadcaster swimming pool has always been using such procedures.

He also argues that setting up a trust would give Starbeck access to funds which are not available to the council.

The only other public swimming pool in Harrogate is the Hydro on Jennyfield Drive which was opened in 1999.