City of York Council is to be congratulated for 'grasping the nettle' in carrying out a review of its leisure facilities, which may result in the conversion of the Barbican and Yearsley swimming pools into private health club (Evening Press, December 14).

Given the many competing demands on council resources to manage and improve core services such as education, it is difficult to justify the escalating cost of maintaining ageing leisure facilities which have limited public appeal.

In its review of leisure services the council should, in my view, move away from the policy of subsidising buildings towards a strategy of investing in programmes that have clear and measurable objectives such as:

Ensuring that every schoolchild learns to swim.

Promoting a wide range of community-based health and fitness activities (in co-operation with the health service) designed to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease and other health problems.

Establishing a comprehensive network of sports clubs, classes and camps for young people (in co-operation with local sports groups) designed to engage youngsters in constructive activity and to offer an alternative to anti-social behaviour.

Anthony Power,

Gate Helmsley, York.

...I must comment on the City of York's proposals to close the Barbican Swimming Pool. As a resident of Fulford the Barbican is the nearest facility available to me and my family to use, as we do regularly.

Since being in the York city catchment area the residents of Fulford, Heslington and Broadway have had only one concession - the Barbican. Take this away and we will have nothing.

The Labour-run city council also pledged computers for all primary school pupils if they were re-elected. Come on City of York Council, listen to your voters and keep your election pledges.

Ian Snedden,

Cherrywood Crescent,

Fulford, York.

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