James Kilner looks back at the public campaign to prevent the closure of two swimming pools in York

TODAY the City of York Council revealed the results of a huge public consultation about the future of York's Barbican and Yearsley swimming pools.

For the people who fought against the closure plans, it is the culmination of a seven-month campaign to secure the future of the pools.

The story began on December 14 last year when the Evening Press exclusively revealed that a massive shake-up of leisure services in the city could mean the closure of the pools.

Charlie Croft, acting director of leisure services for the council, told the newspaper that the number of people using the pools was declining and that they could be replaced by a single newly-built pool.

He said that the council could not afford to fork out the money which would be required to safeguard the future of the pools.

Also, the council needed to trim £1.9 million from its leisure services budget by 2003.

Within a week a strong campaign against the pools' closure had begun, with York author Charles Whiting writing to Sports Minister Kate Hoey to ask her to step in.

On January 11, 2000, the Evening Press launched its own campaign, called Save Our Swim, while action groups were set up to mount campaigns to save the pools.

Two days later, campaigners were told by council leader Rod Hills that it was likely at least one of the pools would shut, with Yearsley possibly receiving a stay of execution.

On January 17, Coun Bob Scrase, chairman of the leisure services committee, revealed to the Evening Press that a community trust could be set up to run the Yearsley pool, though the Barbican's future still looked bleak.

Meanwhile, campaigners were taking to the streets to spread the message against the pools' closure and groups of demonstrators began leafleting and petitioning councillors and members of the public alike.

Heavyweight names began to speak out in support of the campaign, including former Olympic swimming stars Duncan Goodhew and Sharron Davies.

Mr Goodhew branded any pools closure as "outrageous", while Ms Davies said she was "appalled" by the prospect.

One of York's biggest employers, Nestl Rowntree, which originally gave the Yearsley pool to the city in 1909, told the council it would be a great pity if the baths were shut.

York's Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench lent her name to the campaign, and, feeling the pressure, council leader Rod Hills announced that a full public consultation would be carried out before any decision was made.

In March, petitions signed by more than 25,000 people against the closure of the pools were handed to members of the council's leisure services committee.

Meanwhile, an Evening Press phone poll found almost 100 per cent support from readers for the Save Our Swim campaign.

On May 2, the council launched its biggest ever public consultation, with every household in the city sent a questionnaire about the future of the Barbican, Yearsley and Edmund Wilson swimming pools.

Council leader Rod Hills said: "What will happen will be the people's choice. At the end of the day, it is the people of York that will make the decision."

Today the results of that consultation were announced.

PICTURE: FLASHBACK TO LAST FEBRUARY: Fiona Evans with fellow Save Our Swim campaigners at Asda, York