Long-term prospects for the Promenade baths looked bleak when they were closed in the summer of 2008 due to a council budget deficit.

But now, after a series of delays, a decision looks set to be made about a possible re-opening.

For months, businesses and charities have been putting together business plans and proposals on how they would run the pool as the town hall look to privatise and re-open the facility.

A number of groups have now submitted tenders and a shortlist has been drawn up.

The preferred bidder is likely to emerge prior to the crunch budget meeting on March 1 when the council agenda for the meeting is published.

A Fylde Council spokesman said: "The tendering period closed on Monday and a number of bids have been received.

"They will now be evaluated during February and will be considered as part of the budget setting exercise.

"The council budget meeting is scheduled for March 1."

When the move to re-open the pool was first announced early last year, council chiefs said they hoped for a speedy resolution.

Fylde Council leader John Coombes said, last summer, how he hoped the pool would be open "before the snow started falling".

But with bids going in for £500,000 worth of Sport England grants, which turned out to be unsuccessful, the process was slowed up.

Now D-Day is set for March 1 where council bosses have warned hard decisions are needed.

Fylde has previously had to cut services to reduce its spending in order to stay within the Government capping limit of a maximum five per cent annual increase in council tax.