Stoke-on-Trent's Tunstall Pool to close after cuts

A Stoke business leader has criticised the closure of Tunstall swimming pool.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council decided to close the century-old pool earlier this year despite it having more than 100,000 current users.

The council, a Labour-led coalition with the Liberal Democrats, will save £82,000 from the closure as it looks to save £36m of its annual spending.

Matthew Rice, co-owner of Emma Bridgewater pottery, said the closure was "incredibly sad".

The council is required to cut spending by 8% by 2012 after government cuts.

Mr Rice said: "One of the things that is outstanding [about the building] is that it is still being used today for the thing it was used for over a 100 years ago.

"The fact that its status as a bath where so many people in the city have learnt to swim is about to be changed is incredibly sad."