IT WAS the closure-threatened pool that sparked a huge community campaign and a political rebellion.

But soon Oaklands Pool in Southampton will be open once again – under new management and welcoming hundreds of new visitors.

Two-and-a-half years after it was announced that the pool could close, the keys have now been handed over to the community group that will operate it from January onwards.

Council bosses first proposed the closure of the pool in Lordshill in July 2012, but after a lengthy campaign which saw two Labour councillors resign in protest, its future was eventually secured last year.

Just months after putting it forward for closure, Labour instead appointed Interserve to carry out a £1.7m refurbishment at the pool.

And this week, with the project completed, the council handed over the keys to the newly formed Oaklands Community Pool Group.

Dan Lally, the pool’s new facilities manager, said: “The journey has not been an easy one but we are looking forward to bringing this much-loved facility back to the heart of the community where it belongs.

“We are now taking bookings for swimming lessons to start from January and we hope many of you will support the pool.”

Council finance boss Stephen Barnes-Andrews said: “The handover of these keys symbolises a major milestone in the journey to restore Oaklands Pool to its former glory as a buzzing community facility.

“We in turn are passing the pool back into the hands of the local community to be run for their benefit.”

His party colleague and Coxford councillor Sally Spicer said: “It may have taken us two years but it’s certainly now been worth the wait.

“I never gave up on Oaklands once the decision was made to remove the subsidy and fought long and hard to give it its new future for the benefit of the local community and for a new generation of children learning to swim at Oaklands.”

Keith Morrell, who along with fellow Coxford councillor Don Thomas left Labour to form the rebel Councillors Against the Cuts group after the closure was put forward, said: “We welcome the progress being made on the journey towards the reopening of Oaklands Swimming Pool.

“The refurbished pool will be a tribute to all those pool users, local residents, staff and trades unions who fought with such determination to have this popular and vital community resource reopened.”