The fight to save a leisure centre from closing for good has taken a massive step forward.

Last month, Southampton City Council made the controversial decision to sell St Mary’s Leisure Centre in St Mary’s Road after it was closed in December.

The decision will reportedly save the council up to £3,000 a week in running costs.

However, that decision has been called in to question, with the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee set to heavily debate the ruling after a swarm of backlash.

Chair of the committee, Cllr Lorna Fielker, said that the decision has been called due to a “lack of clarity” over the future use of the building.

Speaking to the Echo, Cllr Fielker said: “I have called in the cabinet decision to close St Mary’s as the administration do not seem to have given proper consideration to the response to the consultation.

“A large number of people both responded to the petition but also came to the last meeting to explain why the alternatives identified are not suitable both from a wellbeing and community perspective.

“There is a lack of clarity with regards to the future usage of St Mary’s Leisure Centre and how any money raised would be used to benefit the local community.

“It’s important for the local community that these questions are answered.”

Hosted on March 10, the meeting has been called to discuss the decision made by cabinet, and the reasons for the decision, and the report on which the decision was based.

The chair may then ask the council to re-consider the previous decision.

A public consultation earlier this year found that 87 per cent of respondents said closing the centre would have a negative impact.

Residents have spent weeks campaigning to save the centre with a number of protests hosted outside the venue and the Civic Offices.

One campaigner Nick Chaffey said he agrees with the decision for the scrutiny meeting.

He said: “We agree with the meeting. “[Selling the] site is a bad decision, the wrong decision.

“We are still not happy that the council has provided the right information and we will be [at the meeting] to challenge the council.”

Cllr John Hannides said the process gave the council an “insight into what people feel is important in their community”.

He said: “We can understand the passion that people feel for the leisure centre. I understand their feelings about the proposals.

“We have to acknowledge there is the Solent Complex, which is a brand new, modern leisure centre. Something like 16 of the groups that previously used St Marys Leisure Centre and now using the Solent Complex.”