CAMPAIGNERS have warned that the fight to keep Yearsley Pool up and running could be thwarted by "anti- competition" rules around the new Community Stadium.

The contract between City of York Stadium and GLL, the leisure company chosen to run the sports facilities and swimming pool at the new stadium complex, currently includes a clause which could stop a community-led future for Yearsley, or force City of York Council to pay GLL compensation.

Liberal Democrat councillors who have been working with campaigners to save the historic pool say the anti competition clause would mean that if GLL thinks a community-led option for Yearsley Pool competes with their facilities at the new stadium complex, they could try to renegotiate the contract and claim compensation.

The council, however, has moved to allay the fears saying the clause is a standard inclusion in leisure contracts, adding that the negotiations are still underway.

Councillor Keith Aspden said: “This anti-competition clause casts fresh doubt over the future of Yearsley Pool. Labour is planning to cut funding for Yearsley and had indicated they would look at community-led options if GLL withdrew. However, these community options could trigger a claim for compensation from GLL and make any community proposal uneconomic."

Cllr Aspden said he had written to the council chief executive, asking for urgent clarification before a scrutiny review due to start soon.

The council's current plans include the removal of the annual £250,000 subsidy to Yearsley, and the contract allows GLL to review the pool’s future six months before the new stadium complex opens.

A council spokesman added: "The wording quoted was deliberately provided to stakeholders as the standard wording used in any leisure facilities contract, to ensure an open and transparent review process.

"Officers have held the first of a series of meetings as part of the review agreed at cabinet In September, to give stakeholders the correct background so that valuable feedback can be gained, which will inform the process.

“Commercial negotiations are still ongoing, so no agreement has yet been finalised and we are not in a position to comment further at this stage."

The cabinet-agreed review which is separate to the scrutiny review met for the first time in January to look at future options for the future of the pool.