AS SOMEONE who was closely involved with the development of the building from its inception, I was saddened to see the Waterworld complex close to customers this week.

Built in the mid-1990s by Ryedale District Council and designed by specialist architects Faulkner Browns, this was a state-of-the-art water leisure centre.

Sadly, the financial viability of such facilities is difficult to achieve due to the disparity between the considerable cost of running and maintaining them and the price customers are prepared to pay to use them.

A continual high throughput of paying customers is necessary if the business is to keep its head above water (excuse the pun). This type of facility does well in large cities and conurbations, or in holiday resorts. Unfortunately the pool’s location in Huntington, which at that time was in Ryedale, was less than ideal in terms of catchment.

When Huntington was taken into the city, the pool was clearly seen as an unwelcome gift.

The running of the facility was put into private hands and the operators given leave to convert the adjacent sports hall to a fitness suite, the profits from which were to cover the losses from the pool. It appears that even this has proved to be unsuccessful.

Richard Carr, Station Road, Upper Poppleton, York.