I RECENTLY filled in the council's consultation document about leisure facilities at the city's swimming baths.

Just one question of my own. Did the 26,000 petitioners who were hoodwinked into supporting the retention of these loss-making establishments have even the slightest notion that York's beleaguered council tax payers have to fork out a £1.59 subsidy every time someone dips a toe in the water?

I hope the council can strike a good deal with private operators that will ensure these localised facilities, enjoyed for the most part by people who live in their immediate vicinity, are up-dated and run at a profit.

Perhaps any profit could be reflected in a reduced council tax burden. Dream on!

Brian West,

York Road, Elvington, York.

...WITH reference to the recent city-wide consultation on the future of York's swimming pools, I agree with the comments made in letters, especially from E F Johnson (July 7), pointing out the dangers of putting pools in the hands of the private sector.

How can it be claimed that Waterworld is 'working well' when it is closed a great deal of the time, and when it is open the prices are beyond the means of so many families?

I believe most residents want the pools to stay open with whatever repairs are necessary. Fitness suites, saunas and other sports facilities are, or can be, available separately for those who require them.

I shall be interested to see what kind of statistics are compiled from the responses to this consultation, as it seemed to me it was a very strange questionnaire which most people would find impossible to answer. A simple question - do we want the pools to stay open? - has already been given a resounding 'Yes', so obviously the council needed to complicate the issues in order to obtain some other response!

Jean Frost,

Elmpark Way, York.