Youngsters could miss out on learning lifesaving swimming skills if two York pools close, a city headteacher has warned.

Angela Johnson, head at Fishergate Primary School, feels council proposals, which could see the Yearsley and Barbican pools shut as part of a leisure services shake-up, are particularly short-sighted when children live in a city with two rivers.

Adding her support to the Evening Press Save Our Swim campaign, she said: "It is vital, in terms of safety, that children are taught to swim.

"But swimming is not just an important life skill, it also provides children with access to a healthy and enjoyable recreational activity in a time where there is a lot of criticism of young people sitting in front of computer games."

She said it was also part of the National Curriculum that children should be able to swim and be aware of water safety.

In a bid to build opposition to the proposals, Mrs Johnson has sent out a rallying cry to heads at other city schools.

She has started petitioning parents with children at her 225-pupil school and has encouraged other schools to do the same if they have not already.

She said: "There are fourteen primary schools which use the Barbican pool and, as far as I am aware, if it is closed there wouldn't be time for us in other pools.

"There will be parents who can take their children swimming outside of school but not all can.

"I recognise the council has financial problems, but I think it is very short-sighted if they close any pool."

All proposals in the leisure services revamp will be considered by the council's policy and resources committee next month.

If you wish to support the Evening Press Save Our Swim campaign to protect both the Barbican and Yearsley pools, please write to us at: Save Our Swim, Evening Press Newsdesk, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, or e-mail us at newsdesk@ycp.co.uk

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