Short-changed over swimming?

1:39pm Tuesday 30th October 2007

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The saga of the swimming pool rumbles on.

The problem seems to be that no party can agree, apart from the Liberal Democrats, who have decided that a swimming pool will be built at Oaklands School, and a part-ownership agreement will be made for a pool at the University of York.

As a taxpayer of York, with no axe to grind with any political party, I am amazed at the goings-on.

The Conservatives put forward a motion for a pool at St George's Field, but then quite suddenly did a U-turn on that.

The Labour leader said after the May elections he would not share power with the Liberal Democrats when he had the chance, because he thought that he could do better in opposition. What has happened? Apparently nothing.

The Liberal Democrats are therefore in complete control of all aspects of decision-making in York. Where does this leave the voters of York? Where does this leave the people who, quite rightly, wish to have a swimming pool returned to the city centre?

It seems to me that the politics of York are in a despotic situation, with a leaning towards sectionalism. It is my opinion that there are too many hidden agendas in the whole saga of the swimming pool business.

Do the Lib Dems have the right to sign away £2 million of York taxpayers' money, on a half-promise that the swimmers of York will be accommodated in a pool built on a university campus of several thousand students, who are mainly on staggered lessons and who could drop in for a dip at any time of day?

I think perhaps the ordinary swimmers of York, who are entitled under the Government's sports and leisure policies to have recreational facilities, including swimming, provided are being short-changed.

Les Sweeney, Dalmally Close, York.

* There have been a number of reports in the press concerning "the massive transition" of the swimming pool provision in York.

The Barbican has been destroyed, the Victorian Yearsley Pool has been refurbished at the cost of £900,000. A five-lane pool at Oaklands is promised for 2008-09, but not for galas and similar.

It has been hinted that several years will pass before the promised competition class pool at the university will be in use, as it is still only on the planning desk - so maybe 2011-plus?

The city council is committed to "buy", with the promise of £2 million, an interest in running of the university pool to allow city dwellers the use of its facilities.

During the next four to five years or more we can assume that the £2 million will decrease in value due to inflation. It might be a good idea to spend some or all the money towards refurbishing the Edmund Wilson Pool (which is about 40 years old), something which was originally promised and partially started before the Barbican tale began.

This would go a long way to correcting the recent planning mistakes in relation to York swimming pools, without the need to discuss new sites in the city centre, such as Hungate and St George's Field.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.

* Philip Crowe (Swimming against a tide of inaction, Letters October 27), may remember that at the public inquiry into the university expansion, neither the QC from the university nor the one from City of York Council could say where the money for a pool was coming from, where it would be sited, or when it would be built.

When asked if a swimming pool had been included to make the expansion seem more palatable, neither would answer.

Alec Acomb, Hillcrest Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York.

* Members of the Yearsley Pool Action Group would like to express their immense gratitude for the recent refurbishment of Yearsley Swimming Pool. The work has preserved the best of the old, retaining the superb, large Edwardian pool tank (so beloved of the fitness swimming community), while embracing the best of the new, in terms of modern insulation materials, new ventilation and heat recovery systems that facilitate important energy savings.

The refurbishment has also addressed the aesthetics, creating a fresh modern feel that doesn't detract from the infectious charm of this wonderful historic pool.

We would like to say a big thank-you to Andy Laslett, Simon Luck, Steve Owen, Chris Ledger, their staff, and contractors who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the work was completed on time.

The battle to retain and refurbish the existing, much-loved and much-needed pool has been a protracted one.

Although the final refurbishment eventually received much welcomed cross-party support, special mention should be given to the Liberal Democrats.

It is thanks to the Lib Dems' long-standing support and commitment to Yearsley Pool in the council chamber, that it has been both saved and restored for the benefit of present and future generations.

Our final thanks must go to The Press, swimmers and the wider York community. Without your support, the action group's work would not have borne fruit.

Fiona Evans, Yearsley Pool Action Group, Whenby Grove, Huntington, York.