The future of Elland swimming pool is in doubt.
Campaigners hoping to re-open Elland baths had their request for more time to work on an asset transfer rejected.
Cabinet would not give the Save Elland Baths (SEB) group of residents and councillors more time to develop a business plan.
Council officers had recommended it be rejected by Cabinet, saying the SEB group had not demonstrated they had the right skills for such a big project.
The swimming pool was hastily closed in December 2011 when structural problems were found. Clr Pat Allen, Elland Lib Dem, urged Cabinet to defer making a decision saying: "On June 14 we were told that the asset management team required us to look into bringing this into use as more of a community use than just a swimming pool, sauna and gymnasium.
"It left us with nine weeks to get the paper work sorted.
"They (the asset management team) brought this on themselves and the people of Elland feel very shortchanged."
She criticised the council report as making the SEB members "look like a bunch of idiots" and she outlined the professional backgrounds of members as being suitable.
Clr Barry Collins, Cabinet member for economy and environment, said: "This is a sensitive issue.
"The pool closed because there were real concerns about the structural stability of the pool building itself.
"We do not turn down expressions of interest or a business case simply on a whim. This council will not hand over a building in a dangerous building to a community group unless it is absolutely satisfied that group can deliver it."
He said they would look a the building as part of its asset strategy.
Council leader Clr Tim Swift said he was not convinced that there was a "viable offer for the refurbishment of the pool".
He added: "If we deferred it we would be offering false hope."
The Cabinet papers said: “The contents of the business plan did not demonstrate that the group has the capacity or skills to deliver a successful asset transfer of Elland Pool.
“Save Elland Baths has not demonstrated that they have fully considered all capital and revenue implications due to the enormity of this project.”
