THERE is still two weeks left for Houghton Regis residents to have a say on plans to increase council tax in the town next year to cover the cost of running the leisure centre swimming pool.
In September, a special meeting of Houghton Regis Town Council was held to discuss the future of the pool, which closed on September 4 after Central Bedfordshire Council pulled its funding due to budget cuts.
At the meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to hold a consultation with residents in the town to find out their views on the town council using general reserves money to recommission the pool as soon as possible and then increasing council tax for 2012/13 to cover operating costs for the following year.
A voting form has been sent to all households for their opinion and must be returned to the town council offices by Friday, November 14.
Houghton Regis Leisure Centre Action Group have been campaigning to save the site since the local authority announced that its future was at risk last October.
But the beleaguered facility suffered a further setback this week after potentially fatal legionella bacteria was detected in the shower area of one of the male changing rooms.
Routine water sampling found the problem and immediate action was taken.
The changing rooms were closed and disinfected and the water system was cleaned and flushed through.
Councillor Brian Spurr, responsible for sustainable communities services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “We are waiting the outcome of tests to confirm that remedial action has been successful.”
He added: “The changing rooms will remain closed as a further precaution until the results have come through.”