THANK you for your editorial acknowledging that the problems at both Yearsley and Edmund Wilson pools are long term (November 10). They are not the result of lack of care this year, last year or indeed recent years.

Liberal Democrats inherited a situation where the Barbican, Yearsley and Edmund Wilson pools had lacked investment for many years.

This means that for both Edmund Wilson and Yearsley there is a continual danger that there will be breakdowns.

This was the case with the Barbican pool, which had regular problems. There was a constant danger that it would have a major failure before its actual closure.

We now have an ordered programme to restore the city pools to the condition and reliability they should have had for many years.

Officers have been working through the procurement process that the council has legally to follow for the building of the new pool at Kent Street.

This process is on schedule but could be derailed should a legal challenge by protesters lead to delays.

With building costs rising at up to 15 per cent a year, any delay reduces the money available for leisure facilities, not helped by the continuing poor allocation of funds York receives from Government compared to other councils.

Coun Keith Orrell,

Executive member for leisure and heritage,

Trent Avenue,

Huntington,

York.

Updated: 11:02 Monday, November 15, 2004