I commend all the articles and correspondence supporting the York residents in retaining their important swimming facilities.

In a city the size and standing of York these facilities should not really be in debate. But it seems "actions speak louder than words" and perhaps now is the time for the campaign to become even more active.

We remind the people of York to either use it or lose it. What is needed now is a huge demonstration of support for these facilities. This would be best done by the residents using them to the full thus boosting numbers through the doors again.

If this happens then the suggested idea by our councillors that the pools are surplus to requirements would have no standing.

We all must make greater use of the pools we have. We live in a fine city so let us also be fit citizens who recognise and value the benefit of them now and into the new century.

Kevin Douglas,

Lime Avenue, York.

...It is outrageous that City of York Council is once again able to remove basic amenities from the city.

There is little enough for the youngsters to do and swimming is an all-round healthy sport which should be encouraged. Couldn't the Department of Education become more involved in utilising these pools for the benefit of children?

When I lived in York and was in primary school, part of the curriculum was regular swimming lessons at the St George's swimming baths.

When I compare the public sports amenities of York - a city of many thousand people - with the availability of similar amenities in a small town in New Brunswick, Canada, the York council should be ashamed.

There is a great need for York to provide extra sports facilities such as an ice arena for skating etc, instead of allowing children to spend spare time hanging around on street corners and quite often becoming a nuisance.

Sandra Matthews-Hubley,

Hartley Settlement,

New Brunswick, Canada.

...As a regular leisure swimmer whose occupation enables me to swim at baths throughout Yorkshire and Lancashire, I am aghast at the threatened closure of the city's Barbican baths.

Despite the Leisure Services' apparent policy of deliberately running down the facility to precipitate closure i.e cloudy water clarity, broken lockers and general poor hygiene of the changing area, it is still in my wide experience as extensively used as any pool in the north of England.

I appeal to the council to consider the many senior citizens and schoolchildren who regularly swim at the Barbican in addition to the many people of all ages who visit our city.

Martin Fowler,

Middlethorpe Grove, York.

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