AN ICE skating rink during the winter months and a venue for outdoor entertainment are just two of the many ideas that have been suggested as ways to save Portishead s open air pool and to make it commercially viable.

AN ICE skating rink during the winter months and a venue for outdoor entertainment are just two of the many ideas that have been suggested as ways to save Portishead's open air pool and to make it commercially viable.

Another is to offer the lease of the existing cafe, adjoining the pool, to a commercial organisation that could run it as a restaurant. With the spectacular views and passing trade it could be a very lucrative spot.

Closure of the 1960s pool remains a possibility as North Somerset Council looks for ways to reduce a funding gap of £17million.

A scrutiny panel is currently looking in to the running costs of the pool and how the pool and its amenities can be improved.

Councillor David Pasley, whose ward includes the open air pool, said: "I have been approached by businesses interested in these ideas, I have shown some of them around the site and have been advised they will be writing to the council with their proposals.

"I would like to stress however, this all happened before the scrutiny panel was set up and for the present time I now have to focus on the work of the panel.