SWIMMERS in York have given the thumbs-up to council plans to let residents decide the fate of the city's three pools.

City of York Council is to send every home in York a questionnaire asking residents what they want to happen to Yearsley, Barbican and Edmund Wilson pools.

The announcement follows the publication of the leisure services department's review of fitness and sporting facilities.

Anne Mason swims at the Yearsley pool with her two sons Robin, 13, and Harry, seven, and daughter Suzie, aged nine.

She said: "I think it is good that we have been consulted. It should be a decision that is made by the people of York. My family use all the pools a lot.

"I would want to see where the money would come from before I made a decision on the future of the pools."

Nigel Patterson watches his daughter Stephanie swim at the threatened Yearsley pool.

He said: "I'm very pleased the council have let us decide. There must be some way of working it out."

Derek Husband takes his ten-year-old daughter, Ashleigh, to swim at Yearsley.

He said: "I think the council are passing the buck, by making us decide. I want to see the pools stay open but I'm worried about where the money is going to come from. I certainly don't want to see it come out of education. "

Nigel Lawson enjoys the Yearsley facilities with his son Shaun.

"I don't know where the money will come from but I will be voting to keep Yearsley open. It's the best pool in York."

Johan Turkenburg watches his daughter Laura swim at Barbican pool.

He said: "I don't think we need to modernise the Barbican. It needs to be kept open to swimmers. I don't see how the council can ask us where the money is going to come from to keep the pools open."

Heidi Stoneley, 22, is a regular user of the Barbican pool and wants to see it stay open.

She said: "I think it needs modernising because the changing rooms are disgusting. How the council would pay for it I don't have the answer. Perhaps the National Lottery could help."

Lynnette Sawyer, 47, swims at the Edmund Wilson pool every morning. She said: "If the council close down Barbican and Yearsley, Edmund Wilson will become swamped with people. I'm going to suggest in the questionnaire that the pools are put out for private tender."