FRONT CRAWL: Cathy O'Neill leads the protest march from outside the Barbican in York today

Cries of "Save Our Swim" rang through the streets of York today as protesters took their campaign to save a city pool on to the streets.

Hundreds of protesters walked from the Barbican Pool to St Helen's Square to bring their feelings home to council chiefs considering the pool's future as part of a leisure review.

They covered all ages, from primary school pupils to pensioners. People in wheelchairs and mothers pushing infants joined in the demonstration, all chanting "Save Our Swim," and "What Do We Want - Barbican", as they made their way through the city.

Passing drivers tooted their horns in support of the 200-strong protest, while some passers-by looked puzzled.

After massing in St Helen's Square the walkers handed in a letter at the Mansion House to City of York Council's head of democratic services, Rory Barke, for him to pass on the Lord Mayor Coun Peter Vaughan, who was not available to receive it.

The vice-chairman of the Barbican Action Group, Dorothy Nicholson, stressed that the protest revealed only a fraction of the feeling about the Barbican.

"It's important to say that this is a symbolic gesture, to show solidarity and support for the pool," she said.

They felt the council was pushing an agenda, but the action group wanted to see the justification for any closure. Mrs Nicholson felt there were possibilities for saving the Barbican, and called on the council to talk with them.

She pointed out all the people who used the pool, saying: "It would be a loss that would irreplaceable."

Group secretary Cathy O'Neill said the turnout on a cold day was heartwarming. "It shows the strength of feeling for this pool," she added.

Children on the walk came from Fishergate, St George's and St Lawrence's schools. The head of St George's, Norman Fowler, said parents supported the class of eight and nine-year-olds going on the walk because swimming was so important and the Barbican was such a useful facility.

The walkers were accompanied by Liberal Democrat opposition councillors, whose deputy leader Coun Mick Bradley called for a deal for the Barbican site that would keep the pool open.

Council leader Coun Rod Hills said: "I recognise there is feeling in the city over the question of future provision of swimming but today's protest is simply premature.

"A report on leisure provision in the city will be published shortly and there will be full public consultation.

"However, there is no question of losing facilities for clubs and school swimming - it is merely a question of how this is provided and organised in the future."

See Pupils get behind pool fight

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