THE Soapbox comment of July 27 bemoans the loss of the free swimming for over-60s and under-16s.

First, the funding was supposed to be for two years and introduced by Gordon Brown’s Government as an apparent vote catcher to carry through the period towards the election. Labour lost and the new Government was told “there is no money”, so the free swimming had to go. If it was really to help reduce obesity among children and the over-sixties, it should have been introduced sooner; and, in any case, if you are obese by the age of 60 then it is probably too late.

For those who are not so active it can be difficult and even expensive to reach a swimming pool in York, now that the number of pools has been reduced.

Gyms are supervised by trained instructors who do ensure a suitable exercise is found for people of any age.

As a regular user of a swimming pool and gymnasium before and during the free swimming period, the number of alleged “overweight” persons using facilities did not appear to vary much, before or after.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.