Do not close Yearsley pool. Readers have already made the main points:

1. Yearsley provides an excellent level of teaching for swimmers of all ages and ability.

2. It is the only 50 yard pool in the area providing adequate training facilities for serious swimmers. York has its own Olympic swimmer, Caroline Foot. If York is to maintain its position in national and international swimming events it needs the facilities to encourage young swimmers to compete.

3. It is a popular, well used community resource benefiting a wide range of the community who would otherwise not have local access to affordable fitness facilities.

4. There are enormous health benefits to the community from regular swimming.

This last point I wish to endorse. Research has shown the long term benefits of regular exercise on health.

Swimming is one of the best forms of cardiovascular workout. It is also very effective in reducing the disability from chronic low back pain which a large proportion of the community are affected by.

If access to swimming facilities is reduced the number of swimmers will fall and down will come the health of the community leading to health care costs and disability payments in the future.

Councillors, the health of York is in your hands. Do not close Yearsley pool.

Dr Peter Toomey,

Huntington Road, York.

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