Henk van de Ven was disappointed at the advice given to disgruntled users by former mayor Stuart Baker, who is part of the O&M Aquatics Action Group which is upset at plans for pool lane fees.

“For an ex-mayor to suggest they need to bombard councillors is pretty ordinary,” Cr van de Ven said.

“When he was mayor of the city he had every opportunity to lobby hard for a pool and didn’t do it.

“He’s asking people to do something he would be totally against if he was on the other end.

“That’s disappointing, he’s a good friend, but….his actions are quite disgraceful.”

Mr Baker rejected Cr van de Ven’s comments.

“It’s a fair bit of rubbish,” Mr Baker said.

“I think he’s a bit testy and I did lobby hard for the pool, when I was mayor, I wanted it on the causeway.

“He should be wanting to hear from the public and there’s nothing wrong with bombarding councillors if you’ve got an issue.

“That’s their role, they should be listening.”

Mr Baker’s challenge to mayors Kevin Mack (Albury) and Anna Speedie (Wodonga) to a debate over the pool contract was on Monday met with public silence from the leaders.

A Wodonga spokeswoman said pool manager Aligned Leisure was talking to users and “any response from the councils needs to be made together and the mayors are not available to do that today”.

Mr Baker said “eventually the council will need to get involved because they’ve let the contract and are in charge of the contract”.

The aquatics group wants a stay on lane fee charges for at least the next 12 months and a greater say in the management of the pools.

Aligned Leisure Border transition manager Ben Tudehope would not say on Monday whether his firm would be prepared to meet those conditions.

He said he wanted to meet with pool users as soon as Tuesday to discuss their concerns.

A public meeting hosted by the O&M Aquatics Group on Thursday night will decide whether swimmers and water polo players follow through with a threat to boycott the Albury, Wodonga and Lavington pools.