The three companies will now make a presentation to the council

North Somerset Council is considering a number of options for the swimming pool site which include demolishing it and putting it all back to sand.

It has made a shortlist of three potential developers, all from outside the immediate area.

But the protest group hopes to persuade the council to employ a local firm.

Winning companies

In April, North Somerset Council said potential developers were chosen from a list of nine companies who submitted "expressions of interest".

The council said local bidders had not provided enough information.

In 2004, developers Mace pulled out of a £23m plan to renovate the site, which closed in 2000.

The council said the decision-making process had been anonymous, with the winning companies' identities not revealed until after they had been chosen.