Campaigners fighting to save Portishead's open air pool from closure have made a tour of the Sixties lido to inspect its condition – and say they are confident they can get it open next summer season.

Members of the Portishead Open Air Pool Trust met representatives from contractor DC Leisure, which runs the facility for North Somerset Council, to assess the pool ahead of drawing up a final, detailed business plan to take over the management of the seafront facility.

The business plan – which will outline what the trust wants to do with the pool over the next five years and the level of funding support it will require – needs to be handed to council bosses by January 16.

Once the authority's leaders have the trust's full proposals and costings for the lido, a decision will be made on whether to place the management of the pool in the hands of the trust.

At a meeting of the authority's executive earlier this month, members agreed that although the council would not open the pool itself next season, it would consider the option of handing it over to the trust.

The idea of setting up a trust to run the lido led to the Save The Open-air Pool (STOP) campaign, backed by the Post.

STOP campaign leader and trust member Roger Whitfield said following the inspection, he was confident the pool could open for the 2009 summer season.

Mr Whitfield, who joined the tour with the trust's engineering and business planning representatives, said: "The tour was for us to have a look at the condition of the pool.

"We found no structural problems and checked the plant equipment including the heating system and boilers, all of which seem to be in good working order.

"The building is in a general state of disrepair, but most of the work needed is minor, remedial repairs and cosmetic improvements.

"We are looking at every aspect of the pool's operation as part of our business plan.

"I am confident there are no major reasons why we can't open the pool for next summer."

The trust is also likely to ask North Somerset Council for a small subsidy for the next three years to help it get the pool up and running to a good standard.

But the trust estimates that by the end of year three, it will be breaking even and making a small profit.

The trust is also proposing to carry out a number of improvements at the pool if the go ahead is given for it to take it over.

These include updating the changing rooms, re-opening the children's swimming pool and installing a conservatory as a place for swimmers to rest in bad weather.

Trust members are also considering installing gym and other leisure facilities at the pool, all of which, it is hoped, would boost visitor numbers.

Trust members held a meeting with North Somerset leaders following the executive meeting to discuss the future of the pool.

Mr Whitfield said: "We have met directors of the authority where we outlined what we wanted to do and they outlined what information they wanted from us.

"We have agreed to work together for the good of the pool and to look at ways of making re-opening under a trust a viable option.

"We will be working hard to put together our detailed business plan for the council's consideration."

North Somerset Council has been reviewing all of its facilities and services in an attempt to slash millions off its budgets and balance its books.

The council said it was subsidising the pool, one of the only remaining open air facilities in the South West, by £130,000 a year and recommended it closed.

But a scrutiny panel, tasked with the job of scrutinising the recommendation, said the pool was a valuable facility and that the option of a trust taking over its management should be considered.

A final decision on the future of the pool is expected in the New Year.