YOUR recent Diary On The Loose featured Coun Dave Merrett's heated exchange with the chair of the council's scrutiny committee, called to discuss the proposed replacement five-lane swimming pool at Oaklands School.

In the officer's report to an executive meeting on February 7, 2006, the city's sports strategy clearly stated that without any facilities at the Barbican the city has a shortfall of at least 12 25-metre lanes of pool space.

It is hoped that eight of these will be provided at the university, although how this is to be financed, what control the city might have over its functioning and access, and when this is likely to come on stream are totally unknown quantities.

At a further executive meeting on December 19, 2006, the principal disadvantage of siting the new pool at Oaklands was given as: "The new pool will be 1.5m narrower than Edmund Wilson pool, there is not enough space on the site to accommodate a six-lane pool."

It is clear the council recognises we need a six-lane pool it if is to go some way towards meeting its goals.

I attended the scrutiny committee referred to, as I was far from satisfied the council had done its homework properly, both on space and cost grounds, in the belief that the proposals would result in a substantial facility, and asked that the matter be referred back.

Needless to say, my arguments fell on stony ground.

I am not concerned with the party politics involved here, only that the council provides the citizens of York with the best possible outcome. I am not convinced the Oaklands proposals, as they stand, do this. I suspect many councillors on all sides agree.

Philip Crowe, Clifton, York.