SOMETHING is wrong with York’s ruling Labour group when stalwarts such as Cllr Brian Watson are deselected and others are jumping ship, not to mention the party’s broken promises to York’s citizens.

In 2012 Cllrs James Alexander and Sonja Crisp wrote clear promises on their commitment to the future of Yearsley Pool, its ongoing maintenance and stated this would be underpinned in a contract with a private operator. These promises have been broken, along with the promises made during two years of procurement briefings.

If York’s only large pool is lost, the sport of canoe polo in Yorkshire will be lost; so too York City Baths Club’s long training facility, and the best pool for clubs and fitness swimming. It also provides space for frail and disabled swimmers.

The Yearsley subsidy represents 0.2 per cent of the council’s total annual revenue budget, a small sum compared to the enormous benefits this pool provides to the community.

The pool has survived the poverty of the 1930s and two world wars, and is now being threatened by the party that was formed to ensure social justice for communities.

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