A couple of weekends ago, about 200 people chanting the slogan, "Don't be cruel, save our pool", turned out to oppose the closure of Portishead's open-air pool.

Among them was former top soccer manager and Portishead resident Bobby Gould, whose sons, Jonathan and Richard, had learned to swim there.

"If it was run properly it could be a real asset to the town," he told the Post, a view echoed by many others.

It was all so very different 46 years ago when the pool opened on an unexpectedly hot Sunday in April 1962.

Seven-hundred people turned up to hear the speeches, try out the water and the three diving boards and sunbathe on the terraces.

And because the pool was open from 7am until 7pm, people could go for a dip after work on a warm evening.

The culmination of a 25-year dream, the local dignitaries were going to make the most of it.

It was certainly a big occasion. The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Alderman Charles Smith, accompanied by the Sheriff, Alderman Marcus Hartnell, arrived to formally open the £43,000 pool with a speech and the symbolic pouring of a glass of water.

Among the guests given pool season tickets was Ted Leather, the MP for North Somerset.

Councillor Knowles, the chairman of Portishead's Rural District Council, told the Post that the attendance was "much better than our most optimistic forecasts".

He went on to say that the matter of a pool for the town had been raised many times in the past but had always been shelved when finances were mentioned.

"We now have a very fine pool," he continued proudly, "and I hope that the people of Portishead will make the utmost use of it."

But in truth finances had been tight – in fact, £7,000 had been saved by having no means of heating the water.

If needed, it was to be brought in by tanker.

"Far too many young people," said the Lord Mayor in his opening speech, "have been swimming off the coast of Portishead despite the strong tidal race.

"From time to time there have been casualties – this new pool should end the tragedies."

In fact, there had been swimming off Portishead's Loaf Bathing Beach for generations.

The beach boasted a cafe, changing cubicles and a children's paddling pool filled by the tide.

The so-called "Loaf" rock at the far end of the beach was used for swimming – it even had an iron ladder and diving board attached to it. But people were certainly keen on the new attraction – in the first week, 1,500 turned up.

In truth, Portishead's old pool has been under threat ever since the town's Parish Wharf indoor pool with its four lanes – an all-year attraction rather than a three- monthly one – opened a decade ago.

Despite all the talk of global warming, many outdoor pools, such as Weston's Tropicana and the one at Cheddar, have closed down in recent years.

Local authorities, just like North Somerset, blame increased costs and falling numbers of visitors.

Clifton's 150-year-old open-air, council-run pool – a place to relax, bathe and enjoy a bit of sun on summer evenings and weekends – has been closed for many years, but will be reopening shortly as a spa.

But gone forever are facilities such as the much loved Fishponds Lido, a place where kids could splash about, have fun with their friends and keep cool at the same time.

Henleaze Lake, a disused quarry, is still open and very popular – but that's for club members only.

Clevedon fares no better than Weston – its seawater-filled and muddy Marine Lake is not recommended for swimming.

Despite the prediction of more hot summers in the years ahead, it would seem that healthy outdoor bathing is being discouraged.

Many of the residents who want the pool to remain open say that North Somerset Council has, over the years, neglected the amenity.

Others, perhaps a little more cynically, think that it has been allowed to fall into disrepair so that the council would then have an excuse to close it – and save money.

The pool costs the authority £130,000 a year to run but it says that this summer – admittedly an awful one – its subsidy has amounted to £16 per person.

Over the years it's been suggested that the channel-side pool could be updated, or even given a removable cover in order to combat inclement weather.

But no money has ever been spent, and now North Somerset Council has recommended closing the pool for good.

With the few remaining traditional open-air pools as far away as Shepton Mallet, Street, Stroud and Cheltenham, it's a great shame that Portishead is to close.

Some people say that they would like to try running it as a non-profit-making but valuable community asset – if the council would only let them.

A public meeting will take place at 7pm tonight (October 27) at the town's Somerset Hall for pool supporters to decide on their next course of action.

A scrutiny panel is currently looking into the report which recommended permanent closure. A final decision will be made at the end of November.

For more information about the STOP (Save Our Pool) campaign – which is backed by the Evening Post – log on to www.thisisbristol.co.uk/pool