VICTORIOUS campaigners launched a joyful celebration in York today after council leader Rod Hills promised that none of York's swimming pools will close.

Coun Hills bowed to immense pressure from York's public - and a hard-hitting Evening Press campaign - as he promised £7 million would be found to keep the Barbican, Yearsley and Edmund Wilson pools open.

But he warned that saving the pools would mean cutbacks elsewhere: "They (the public) say their priority is swimming. We will retain that, but there is a price to pay. Just don't whinge at me in five year's time because their new school hasn't been built."

The announcement ends a six-month fight to block closure proposals made by City of York Council. It also follows a £7,000 city-wide consultation.

Coun Hills said: "It is time and money well spent. We needed to formulate what people thought, and I'm proud of what we have done.

"The conclusion of all this is that the people of York have spoken clearly and decisively and have said that what they want is swimming provision on all three sites.

"I have said from the start that I will be led by the decisions of local people who have the full knowledge of all the facts.

"I now pledge that we will retain swimming on all of the sites."

He said: "It isn't going to be easy to find the money and other work in the city might not get done, but we put that to the residents and they understand that."

He said council services would not deteriorate, although some other capital projects may be put back.

Today's news was met with celebration by objectors against the plans. Leading Yearsley Pool campaigner Fiona Evans said: "Despite the fact that the questionnaire was biased and confusing, the public have seen through the manipulation and have given a positive vote to keep York swimming pools, to retain the essential service they provide to our community.

"This reflects the message sent by the 26,600 people who signed the Yearsley and Barbican petition."

Mrs Evans also thanked the Evening Press for its "excellent" Save Our Swim campaign.

"You have given us a mechanism to pursue accountability from the council, and without the publicity our voices would probably not have been heard," she added.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway said: "I am delighted that finally the council's leadership has realised what we have been telling them for months - that people want swimming at all three sites.

"It will be difficult to find the money in one year, but it can be done over several years, and we believe most of the money can be found through private investment."

Coun Hills said private developers had been approached, and possible repair schemes are expected to be aired in September.

These could include a hotel on land at the Barbican site to help meet the cost - but he said this would not meet the full expense for all three schemes.

PICTURE: EVERYTHING'S GONE SWIMMINGLY: Celebrating today's decision to save the pools are, from left, Geoffrey Hope, Fiona Evans, Dorothy Nicholson, Marie Newby and Richard Fox Picture: Mike Tipping