MISCHIEF making and hidden agendas spring to mind from the protest group led by John Issit.

If he has such strong views on the future of the Barbican, why has he not made them known before today?

It was December 1999 that the then Labour council declared that it intended closing either Barbican or Yearsley swimming pools, or both.

As a result, action groups appeared at Barbican and Yearsley to ensure that their views were listened to and concerns addressed by the council.

Because of the hard work and tenacity of these two groups, the council has pledged to refurbish Yearsley pool. But it does not end there.

Labour and then the Lib Dem councillors have negotiated over the past number of years what is considered the best deal for York's leisure facilities across the city, with the Barbican Venture group.

Now at the 11th hour this ill-informed group are trying to scupper this hard-fought deal.

If they succeed, and God forbid, they will put leisure in York back five or more years, because the refurbishment of Edmund Wilson and Yearsley pools is dependent on the Barbican deal going through.

If this does happen, the citizens of York will have Mr Issit, his cohorts and their misguided views to thank for the inevitable stagnation of York's swimming pools.

S Bell,

Albion Avenue,

York.

...THE letter which you published from Dorinda Gear is typical of the campaign of misinformation which is being promoted by those who want to stop the modernisation of the Barbican (March 11).

Even your recent editorial sought to perpetuate the myth that a "casino" was planned for the site - that proposal was withdrawn months ago.

Can the "rent a mob" opponents get the message please.

1. The Barbican auditorium will stay. It will be the same size as it is now. It will be fully refurbished and supported by new restaurants. There will be at least as many concerts as we enjoy now plus a lot more happening.

2. The swimming pool is at the end of its life. It has to be replaced.

3. The new state-of-the-art pool, fitness suite, beauty salon, internal soft play area, outside playground and workout studio will be built next to the present buildings. The pricing policy will be similar to the current arrangements and casual use will be encouraged.

4. The council will get enough money from the deal to not only invest £5 million in the new sports/leisure centre, but also to modernise both Yearsley and Edmund Wilson Pools. If those pools do not get £4 million invested in them they will close.

The development will bring more than 100 new jobs to York and will allow for large conferences to take place in the city for the first time.

The Luddite opponents are seeking to rob future generations of leisure facilities which will be the envy of the region.

Their campaign will not stop progress but it might delay it long enough for events such as the annual snooker tournament to be lost to the city.

Mrs P Baird,

Ashford Place,

Acomb,

York.

...AT the excellent Scottish Fiddle Orchestra Concert at the Barbican, the person sitting next to me said "Isn't it a shame that the council are going to knock down the concert hall?"

When I told her that this is not true, that it is actually going to be modernised, the woman told me that she and her husband (who were not from York), had been stopped by the Save the Barbican petitioners and told that it was going to be pulled down.

We are all entitled to our views on the development of the Barbican, but the action group must be very desperate if they have to stoop to misleading people in this way.

I shall certainly be very sceptical of any petition figures they produce.

Jackie Talbot,

Redcoat Way,

York.

Updated: 10:08 Monday, March 22, 2004