Chris Greenwood's report about Edmund Wilson pool ("Upgrade pool may now be demolished", January 22) didn't mention a key point - that the council wants customers' views before taking plans further.

The council is committed to Edmund Wilson and to giving the public exactly the kind of facility they want. That is why we put in hand a scheme to refurbish the pool. Unfortunately, that scheme ran into difficulties but we have taken the opportunity afforded by the delay to take a fresh look; to do more work on the design and produce some exciting options for the public to look at.

It now looks as if it will be more sensible and cost effective to do all the necessary work in one go. This will also lessen the disruption to customers. We shall be detailing a consultation process to give everyone a chance to have their say. Not just about Edmund Wilson, but York's three pools. The choices will be explained and include keeping the Edmund Wilson building as it is or having a new one. Give us your views.

Coun Alan Jones,

Executive member for leisure and heritage, City of York Council,

Guildhall, York.

...The debacle of the Edmund Wilson Pool refurbishment comes as no surprise to the Yearsley Pool Action Group. We have repeatedly warned the council that they could find themselves in an expensive predicament, if they blindly accepted the GLR Architects report on the pools.

GLR's report on Yearsley Pool lacked scientific substance. Our assertions are not based on emotion, but on the information provided by experienced and qualified engineers, and on the scientific information obtained from independent, award winning consultants, who conducted a structural survey of the Yearsley pool tank in 1990.

Judging by the present situation, it appears that GLR Architects did not do sufficient research with the Edmund Wilson pool either.

Our warnings and requests for technical debate have largely been ignored.

The avowed consultation with our group has become nonexistent, and the proposed £30,000 feasibility study at Yearsley Pool appears to be looking at options for rebuilding it, not refurbishing it, as 99.1 per cent of the consulted users desire.

The council must start listening and engage in meaningful debate, or they could end up wasting taxpayers money, and destroying valuable facilities.

Fiona Evans,

Yearsley Pool Action Group

Coordinator, Whenby Grove,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 11:31 Friday, January 24, 2003