In this healthy brewery town, the battle-cry: "We want a swimming pool" was repeated with monotonous regularity from the start of the 1900s. Therefore it took almost a century to accede to the wishes of local people - though naturally many had long gone - who would have preferred to swim in a purpose-built pool rather than the treacherous River Wharfe.

Judging by the use made of our community swimming pool's car park which always appears to be full whenever I walk past it, swimming is very popular at Tadcaster. Therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that the health of these many swimmers must be improved by using the pool's facilities. An amenity of which we locals are justifiably proud even if (like me) they are non-swimmers.

Ida Mary Goodrick,

Woodlands Avenue, Tadcaster.

...I refer to the letter from S Hepworth appealing for the continuing use of the Yearsley pool, on the grounds that those at the Barbican 'are busier' (January 13). This is a necessary condition for not closing the Barbican Swimming Pool. It is barbarous of the New Labour leadership of City of York Council to contemplate such a closure. It can only be reasonably inferred that the elected members involved are so out of touch with the real needs of the electorate, that they are, perhaps unwittingly, exposing themselves to resentments and public bitterness that will ensure their downfall.

R Granville,

Manor Lane,

Shipton Road, York.

...Surely the letter from S Hepworth is recommendation enough for keeping the Barbican pool open. More swimmers mean more cash for the council.

Yearsley is a good pool but the facilities are very poor. I have a photograph of my mother by the pool side at Yearsley taken in the 1920s, the only difference now is the addition of a roof.

There are also citizens of York living on the eastern side of the city who walk to the Barbican in 20 minutes, but could not manage to walk to Yearsley.

I am speaking for more than 50 swimmers who enjoy the 50+ sessions twice weekly, some of whom are unable to walk far and need to drive to the pool.

J Goodhall,

Yarburgh Way, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.