IN the week when the council's strategy for replacing the Barbican has turned from tragedy to farce, your editorial was right to ask "is city pools plan sunk?" (November 10).

The fact that no public swimming pools were open in York was a direct result of the Liberal Democrats' decision to rush ahead with the closure of the Barbican, despite public opposition.

This week's council meeting revealed the Liberal Democrats still do not have a firm plan for replacing the two Barbican pools.

The only thing we do know is that any new pool will provide less room for swimming than the existing pools and is going to take years to materialise given that the council is only just beginning to find a firm to build it.

The public is entitled to ask why on earth the council closed the Barbican pools before they at least had a firm replacement scheme in place. It would also be interesting to know how the small five-lane pool that is now on offer compares to the artist's impression of a large spacious pool which was on display in the Barbican.

Finally it should be pointed out that, despite the glossy picture painted in your columns by Charlie Croft, director of lifelong leisure services, adequate replacement provision has not been provided for all the sports activities that used to take place at the Barbican.

Climbers have been told that they must travel to Leeds to use a climbing wall, circuit training and other fitness classes are now only available in Acomb and Clifton Moor, and the promised new activities at All Saints School have completely failed to materialise.

Danny Golding,

Albemarle Road,

York.

Updated: 11:01 Monday, November 15, 2004