Fylde Council has done a U-turn and come up with a deal which would see the closed pool refurbished and taken over by a private contractor.

Tory town hall chiefs will unveil the plans and vote on them at the annual budget-setting meeting on Monday March 1.

But opposition councillors say such late notice will give them no opportunity to consider the proposal and look into the financial ramifications.

They claim such a big decision should not be left until the last minute and have appealed for greater openness.

Opposition leader Coun Liz Oades said: "We're being told we will get the information on budget day. They're telling us they are still going through the two tenders to make a decision. But someone must know what they are intending to do. In a situation which is so complex we need time to consider the situation before simply being asked to vote it through.

"It's a very important decision and we should not get the information at the last minute."

A draft budget unveiled this week allocates £475,000 for St Annes pool this year.

Coun Oades believes cash would come in the form of borrowings and would be used as a subsidy to the private contractor.

The pool was closed and drained in July 2008 and is now in need of a number of repairs.

But opposition bosses want to know what the total cost to the taxpayer will be, including a possible interest on any loan, before they make a decision.

Fylde Council said today the deal remained "commercially sensitive" and suggested they have yet to decide on a preferred bidder.

A spokesman added that £475,000 was the amount needed to "recommission" the pool and would be part of the authority's capital budget.