THE future of a Wirral sports centre which was at the centre of controversial closure plans will be decided this week.

Guinea Gap Baths, in Wallasey, was initially slated for closure under the Strategic Asset Review, which also threatened the future of 11 libraries across the borough.

The plans were fiercely opposed by the Conservatives, and Seacombe Labour councillor Adrian Jones, who as mayor at the time had opposed the closure behind the scenes.

Last night, Cllr Jones said this was now “an opportunity for the new administration to put their money where their mouth is”.

The Conservative ruling cabinet will, on Thursday, be asked to approve ongoing costs of £640,000 a year to retain the facility.

Last night, council leader Jeff Green said there was no question that they would stick by their campaign promise.

He said: “Labour, when they were in control of the council, put Guinea Gap on death row – only giving it funding until the election was out of the way.”

The former Labour-led council leadership withdrew the closure plans for Guinea Gap – and later the libraries – but now the full cost of this decision will have to be dealt with by the Conservatives controlling Wirral Council, in their coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

The former Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition had hoped to be able to find a developer for the site which overlooks the Mersey in Seacombe, and the baths had been given an extra two years – to March, 2011 – while this option was explored.