BOLTON'S once-prestigious Water Place will close in 10 days time, even though council chiefs may be forced to pay back more than £1 million to the Government.

The £5 million swimming centre will shut on October 27. Councillors approved the decision despite a demonstration before last night's meeting of Bolton Council.

Protesters gathered outside the town hall in an 11th hour bid to persuade councillors to reject the closure recommendation.

But their efforts were in vain. Council chiefs said it would cost too much to save the Water Place, which was built only 13 years ago.

Cllr Laurie Williamson, executive member for culture, said it would cost £4.5 million in repairs to keep the complex open -- money the local authority does not have.

But council chiefs are concerned that a £1.1 million grant handed to the council when the swimming complex was built in 1988 could be demanded back by the Government.

The Office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has also told the council that 14 per cent of any profits from the sale of the building -- which cost £5.9 million to build -- or the land, could be claimed by the Government.

But Keith Davies, deputy director for education and culture, said: "A lot of this is still hypothetical. A grant of £1.1 million was given to the council when the Water Place was built. We are still not sure what, or whether, anything will be claimed back."

Councillors voted for closure because maintenance costs have spiralled in recent years and visitor numbers are declining. More than £2.5 million is needed to repair the electrics alone.

The council has been looking at whether it could sell the site to a developer and whether another swimming pool could be built in the town centre.

Cllr Williamson said: "The level of usage has gone down significantly at the Water Place. People have voted with their feet.

"In fact, usage has never quite hit our expectations even as far back as 1990. In those days there were no worries, but the situation never got better."

He added: "Even if the building was in a perfect state, we would still have had to consider closure because it costs too much to run."

Cllr Williamson reminded councillors that the Water Place had aimed to bring "Blackpool to Bolton". He told them to dismiss talk that it should never have been built, referring to it as a gamble that was worth taking at the time.

He also denied claims from Lib Dem councillor Roger Hayes that the decline was due to under-investment and political mismanagement. He believed the market for such a swimming facility had disappeared as private sector companies such as David Lloyd and Esporta moved into Bolton.

Protesters said they could not afford to go to a private gym or pool.

They waved Unison posters outside the building declaring "SOS: Save our Swimming", "Keep Bolton Swimming" and "People Not Profit".

Florence Hill, Unison's education and culture convenor, said: "We have always opposed the closure of the Water Place. These facilities are not built to make money, but to provide a service to those who cannot afford to go elsewhere."

Lilian Nealon, aged 62, of Quebec Street, Deane, said: "If they had the right management in from the start none of this would be happening."

During the meeting, however, Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader, said: "If you wanted to spend the amount needed to keep up maintenance of the Water Place, it would have threatened other facilities in the town."