A MUCH loved swimming baths in Wirral which closed suddenly could be reopened by the end of 2012.

Byrne Avenue Baths is set to undergo a major £750,000 refurbishment and those behind its revival say it should be open by November.

Local people and staff at the baths were left shocked in February 2009 when a notice was pinned to the door saying the pool had shut down during its 75th anniversary year.

It had been run by a registered charity, the Byrne Avenue Recreational Trust, who leased the building from Wirral Council which owns the freehold.

Now a new group of local businessmen, called the Byrne Avenue Community Trust, have agreed a deal with the council to lease the property. They want to see the swimming pool restored and use the building as a community centre run by and for local people.

The authority has also put forward £350,000 towards the cost of bringing the centre back into use, with a range of activities planned for the site. The intention is to create a centre which can help the local community, providing jobs and sports facilities.

John Fennah, one of those leading the bid to revive the centre, said the day it shut had been “heart wrenching”.

He has assembled a group of local companies including building surveyors Grantley Lowe, engineers PDS Consulting, lawyers Bermans and accountant Trevor Mathew-Jones who have already worked for free to develop a rescue package for the centre. With the help of local MP Alison McGovern they are now putting together plans to add to the funding already earmarked from Wirral Council. Mr Fennah said: “The plan is to open in November next year – ambitious as it might be, we have a timeline and something to aim for. Now we want to say to the local community and people across Wirral, if there are people who can help in any way, we’d be delighted if they get in touch.”